The electric revolution: The best-selling car has been revealed

It has been confirmed that the Tesla Model Y was the world's best-selling car in 2023, marking the first time an electric vehicle (EV) has topped global automotive sales charts.

On sale since 2022, the Model Y has led the ongoing success of Elon Musk's EV firm, securing its place as the UK's best-selling electric car for two consecutive years, picking up where the Tesla Model 3 sedan left off in 2021.

Tesla's electric family SUV, which sold more than 1.2 million units last year, has surpassed long-standing global bestsellers such as the 2022 chart-topping hybrid Toyota RAV4 SUV, as well as the all-time best-selling car, the Toyota Corolla.

This data was compiled by the automotive industry intelligence firm Jato Dynamics. While a total of 78.32 million new cars were sold across 151 countries last year, SUVs accounted for nearly half of global sales.

The most striking point is that the Model Y managed to maintain its top position despite Tesla's absence from many emerging markets. Felipe Munoz, a senior analyst at Jato Dynamics, described Tesla as a "brand built for the developed world" and stated: "Although it cannot target these markets right now, there is potential for emerging markets to be explored as an additional source of growth in the future."

Furthermore, although Elon Musk recently denied that an updated version of the Model Y would arrive before the end of this year, it is possible that the refreshed car, codenamed 'Juniper', will be launched early next year, incorporating the same upgrades as the facelifted Tesla Model 3.