New data shows that an electric car also became the world’s best-selling car in the first three months of this year.
New number one: Tesla Model Y
The electric car in question is Tesla’s Model Y.
According to Jato Dynamics, 267,200 Model Y were sold in the first quarter, ahead of Toyota’s Corolla with 256,400. Third place went to another Toyota, the Hilux, with 214,700.
Tesla Model Y (Image: Tesla.com)
Elon Musk was almost completely correct
In 2021, Tesla’s founder, Elon Musk, said that he believed that Model Y would soon become the world’s best-selling car:
“We think Model Y will be the best selling car or vehicle of any kind in the world. Probably next year. I’m not 100 percent certain next year, but I think it’s quite likely… more likely than not, that 2022 Model Y is best selling car or truck… in the world.”
He missed by one quarter. For the full year 2022, the Model Y came in third place. (Of course, it remains to be seen whether Model Y can hold first place for the whole year 2023.)
If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:
Tesla Model Y (Image: Tesla.com)The UK, Europe’s second largest plugin market, saw electric vehicle share almost double year on year to 25.6% in February. Full electrics alone took 17.7% share. Overall auto volume was down some 28% over seasonal norms, to 58,994 units. Debuting in February after a long wait, the Tesla Model Y was the best selling electric, and 4th in the overall market.
February’s combined plugin result of 25.6% comprised 17.7% full battery electrics (BEVs), and 7.9% plugin hybrids (PHEVs). This strong weighting towards BEV is in line with recent months.
Petrol-only powertrain share was down to 40.6%, its second lowest ever (from last December), a significant fall off from the 52.1% of February 2021.
The temporary “quick fix” transition technology of plugless hybrids (both HEV and mild) may have already peaked, seeing 27.2% in February, from over 30% in mid 2021.
UK’s Popular BEV Brands
With Tesla’s international shipping arriving again in February, and after a long wait, the Tesla Model Y saw its UK debut. It took the number one spot for best selling BEVs in the month, and #4 in the overall UK auto market. Its older sibling, the Model 3 was right behind, at #5 overall.
For context, here’s the list for February’s overall auto market leaders (all powertrains):
If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:
Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas wrote in a note to clients on Friday that global EV sales will grow 50% or more next year, while sales of internal combustion engine vehicles are expected to grow 2% to 5%. He also predicted that global EV penetration will rise from 4% to 31% by 2030.
Those predictions may or may not come true, but one thing is certain and that is 2021 is shaping up to be a critical year for EV adoption. Mercedes-Benz just announced its Tuscaloosa plant will build large, electric SUVs starting from 2022 as part of what it calls its electric-vehicle “fireworks display”. Aiming to take the lead in premium EVs from Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA), Mercedes-Benz announced plans to deliver eight new all-electric models starting from early 2022.
But near-term, Europe remains the most fertile EV ground. Stricter emission regulations and government subsidies that make these vehicles much more affordable are speeding up the de-adoption of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Here are six electric vehicles that could bring on the “ICEpocalypse” to European roads.
Volkswagen’s ID.3 And ID.4
Volkswagen’s (Pink: VWAGY) ID3 was the top-selling EV in Europe only one month after being launched. But Europe has been shifting toward larger vehicles, so the ID.4 should grow in popularity quickly and, with its highly competitive price considering the range and specs, it should give the ID.3 a run for its money.
Renault ZOE
ZOE (Pink: RNLSY) has been the top-selling electric vehicle on the continent in most of the last decade. As it continues to improve and range increases, the ZOE should replace the Clio, which sold 230,000 units in Europe during the first 10 months of the year. Although the ZOE, which was the top-selling EV in Europe until the ID3 came along and took its throne in October, was at 73,403 units, it’s only a matter of time before it reaches 100,000 in European sales per year. But it needs to fend off the competition and grow a backbone.
The improved Renault Zoe has a longer range and posher interior (Image: Renault)
Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y
Tesla’s Model 3 is the top selling EV in the world. In Europe, it is second on the top-selling list. It’s not exactly on track to beat 100,000 sales in 2020, but Tesla is determined to win over Europe considering its ambitious developments at its upcoming Berlin factory. However, it has been ordered again to suspend its preparations due to a successful court injunction by environmentalists. This time round, Tesla was stopped by snakes and lizards. But its Model Y will arrive to Europe eventually and it is probably going to sell considerably better than the Model 3, due to its features and an overall preference for its class of vehicle.
Peugeot e-208
Peugeot’s (Pink: PUGOY) 208 was the 7th best-selling vehicles in the first 10 months of the year. So, while the e-208 had only about 25,000 sales in that time period, it could gradually rise up the rankings as tech improves, range increases, and cost drops in the coming year. It is considered by many as one of the best European EV offerings on the market, a testament to Peugeot’s upswing.
If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:
Just before deliveries of the Tesla Model Y began Friday (according to various accounts on Twitter, at least), Tesla showed more views of the interior, and nudged the top EPA range rating up to 316 miles.
That’s a one-mile increase from the 315 miles quoted by Tesla in January. At the time, the automaker said it was raising the top range rating from the previous 280 miles thanks to “continuing engineering progress.”
Tesla Model Y (Image: Tesla.com)
Published on the Model Y page of Tesla’s website—but not yet confirmed by the EPA—the 316-mile range applies to the Long Range version of the all-wheel drive Model Y. The Performance version is rated at 315 miles.
As the name implies, the Performance is the sportier of the two. It will do 0 to 60 mph in as little as 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 145 mph, according to Tesla. Figures for the Long Range variant are 4.8 seconds to 60 mph and a top speed of 135 mph.
If you would like to know more about Solar Panels and the PowerBanx range of home battery systems, and get a free instant quote, please complete our online form:
Tesla last night unveiled the latest member of its passenger vehicle family, the Model Y crossover SUV, which sports a range of up to 300 miles, seats seven, and has a price tag of US$47,000.
Chief executive Elon Musk has predicted the model will sell better than the other three combined.
Tesla Model Y (Image: Tesla.com)
Deliveries of this long-range base-model version of the car will begin in the fall of 2020, but the car is available to pre-order, of course, with a deposit of US$2,500. A cheaper, shorter-range, version of the Model Y, at US$39,000 will be made available to customers in the spring of 2021. Its battery would have the capacity to last for 230 miles.
There will also be a more expensive version of the Model Y, The Verge reported, with a price tag of US$51,000 that will feature an all-wheel drive and a dual motor. A third, even more expensive version will be a performance Model Y that will sell for US$60,000. Both of these will be made available to customers at the same time as the base model.
Chief executive Elon Musk shows off image of new car and semi-truck, and gets ready for mass-market electric vehicles
Tesla’s new Model Y electric SUV teaser image sparked controversy over its wing mirror-free appearance. Photograph: Tesla
Tesla’s chief executive Elon Musk has given preview of its upcoming Model Y small SUV and a so far nameless electric truck, as it prepares to deliver its first cheaper Model 3 electric saloons.
During the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting, Musk released a teaser image of the Model Y, which will be available in the 2019-2020 time frame and follow on from its larger SUV, the Model X. Musk said the Model Y would use a new platform building on the improvements made to existing models.
One of the new models to benefit from improvements since the original release of the Model S in 2012 is the more affordable Model 3, Tesla’s attempt at mass-market electric car. The Model 3 is expected to cost from $35,000 in the US, putting it in the same bracket as the BMW 3 series.
Musk said that Model 3 production is on track to start next month, and that vehicles should be delivered to those first in line for the pre-orders soon after. Tesla is aiming to make 5,000 Model 3s per week by the end of this year and 10,000 per week in 2018. The company hasn’t said how many people have put down $1,000 refundable deposits for the Model 3, but Musk said people who put down a deposit now won’t get a car until the end of 2018, indicating it could be close to 500,000.
Tesla’s teaser image for its prototype all-electric semi-truck. Photograph: Tesla
The biggest challenge for Tesla will be around meeting mass-market production. It has faced manufacturing delays with previous models, including the latest Model X SUV which was nearly 18 months late. Musk said it was “crazy hard” to make cars and that Tesla had learned a lesson from the complexity of previous models. The Model 3 would be much simpler to make, not least because only the colour of the car and the size of the wheels would be customisable from the beginning rather than having a plethora of customisation options that would increase the time required to make the cars.
The 14-year-old Tesla has no experience producing and selling vehicles in high volumes, making just 84,000 cars last year compared with rivals such as GM, Volkswagen and Toyota, which routinely sell more than 10m per year.
Once the Model 3 is on the road in quantity, Tesla will also face servicing and charging troubles. The company said that it would increase the number of stores and service centres by 30% this year, but at the start of 2017 it had just 250 worldwide
Musk says a new fleet of mobile service trucks will be deployed and that Tesla plans to double its global high-speed “Supercharger” power points to 10,000 by the end of this year and increase them by another 50-100% in 2018.
Tesla is also seeking to break into freight transportation with a new all-electric semi truck, which is due to be unveiled at the end of September. Musk said that Tesla was currently shopping designs around to large freight firms with positive reactions and that the firm would have more than just truck news to share later this year.
