Image: Tesla
Tesla has officially outsold Mercedes-Benz Group for the first time ever. According to data shared by investment researcher @alojoh, Mercedes sold 441,500 vehicles in the third quarter of 2025, compared to Tesla’s all-time high deliveries of 497,099 units. That’s a difference of 55,599 vehicles, giving Tesla a 12.6% sales lead over the German automaker.
Mercedes’ vehicle sales fell 12.3% year-over-year during Q3, while Tesla’s climbed 7.4% over the same period. The milestone marks another turning point for Tesla, which continues to chip away at the dominance of legacy carmakers that have led the automotive industry for over a century — Mercedes’ first car dates back to 1901, while Tesla’s was built in 2004.
The achievement follows Tesla’s record-breaking Q3 2025 delivery report from last week, which confirmed 497,099 deliveries and 447,450 vehicles produced worldwide. The all-electric automaker even produced more cars during the quarter than Mercedes sold, further underscoring its expanding global reach.
Tesla’s rise comes as it continues to challenge traditional manufacturers on multiple fronts. Earlier this quarter, the Model Y became Norway’s best-selling vehicle of all time, surpassing the Nissan Leaf — a milestone that’s even more impressive considering the Model Y has only been available in the country for four years.
However, Tesla’s ascent isn’t without pressure. The company faces growing competition from Chinese automakers like BYD, which are severely undercutting it on price. BYD handily surpassed Tesla in battery electric vehicle (BEV) deliveries during Q3, reporting 582,522 units to Tesla’s 497,099.
Tesla will release its Q3 2025 financial results on Wednesday, October 22, when the company is expected to provide deeper insight into its quarterly performance and profitability. Stay tuned for our full coverage of Tesla’s Q3 2025 results later this month.
