Feng Huang Wang·2026-01-01 01:47Core Viewpoint - Tesla's Model Y has been claimed by CEO Elon Musk to be the best-selling car globally for the third consecutive year, but this assertion is being challenged by industry analysts who suggest it may drop to third place in 2024 [1][2]. Sales Performance - In 2023, Model Y achieved a historic milestone as the first electric vehicle to top global sales, earning the title of "Electrek Car of the Year" [1]. - However, data from JATO Dynamics indicates that Model Y narrowly lost to Toyota RAV4 by 2,000 units, raising doubts about its sales leadership in 2024 [2]. - Independent analysts predict that Model Y's global sales will decline significantly, with an expected year-on-year drop of 12% to 15% [3]. Global Sales Rankings - The projected global sales rankings for 2024 are as follows: - 1st: Toyota RAV4, with an estimated annual sales of approximately 1.2 million units, reflecting a year-on-year growth of about 0.6% [4]. - 2nd: Toyota Corolla, with an estimated annual sales of around 1.08 million units, showing a year-on-year decline of approximately 8.1% [5]. - 3rd: Tesla Model Y, with an estimated annual sales of about 1.03 million units, indicating a year-on-year decrease of approximately 12.7% [6]. Data Transparency Issues - Tesla's lack of transparency in reporting specific sales figures for Model Y and Model 3 complicates the verification of Musk's claims, as the company only provides combined delivery numbers [6]. - Analysts rely on registration data from various countries to estimate sales figures, which can lead to discrepancies with Tesla's public statements [6].