Tesla’s Model Y is poised to become Europe’s best-selling car for the year 2023, outpacing its closest competitor, the gasoline-powered Dacia Sandero.
According to preliminary data from market researcher Dataforce, the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker’s midsize SUV holds a significant lead, with sales figures indicating a clear advantage in the European market, reports Automotive News.
As of the latest data, which accounts for 97% of sales in the European Union, EFTA countries, and the U.K., the Model Y has sold 254,822 units compared to the Sandero’s 235,893.
This lead, if maintained, will mark several firsts for the Model Y: it will be the first electric car, the first midsize car, the first premium car, and the first non-European car in the modern era to finish a year as the number one seller in Europe. That’s huge.
Automotive News Europe had predicted in November that the Model Y would clinch the full-year title. The Model Y dominated sales charts in seven out of the twelve months in 2023, while the Sandero led in four months, and the Volkswagen T-Roc topped in one month.
The transition to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) in the automotive industry is gaining momentum, with 2023 emerging as a pivotal year for BEV production and electrification trends.
Dataforce’s preliminary numbers also suggest that the Volkswagen T-Roc, Renault Clio, and Peugeot 208 are likely to secure the third, fourth, and fifth positions, respectively, in Europe’s full-year sales rankings. The Peugeot 208 was the top seller in 2022, followed by the Sandero. The VW Golf, which led sales in 2021, is expected to finish in seventh place in 2023.
In a monthly breakdown for 2023, the Tesla Model Y and Dacia Sandero alternated as Europe’s top sellers, with the VW T-Roc leading in July. Despite a 24% sales decline in December, the Model Y remained the frontrunner, with the Renault Clio and Volkswagen Golf trailing closely behind for the month’s sales.
As for countries that led Model Y sales in Europe? Germany was first, followed by France in second and the UK in third, according to public data compiled by Roland Pircher.
“Thank you to our owners in Europe,” said Tesla on Thursday morning. Yesterday, Tesla announced price cuts for Model Y in Europe, including incentives such as 0% interest on lease and financing in Germany.