According to Auto News Research & Data Center, Tesla delivered 491,000 vehicles in the US in 2022, a 44% increase from the previous year, making it the top luxury brand in America. However, Tesla does not officially disclose sales by country and the data does not specify which model was the best-seller.
Auto News’ estimates are based on vehicle registration data and are considered accurate. If the numbers are correct, Tesla has now surpassed Mercedes and BMW as the top-selling luxury brand in America.
Previously, Mercedes was considered the luxury sales leader with 350,949 units sold, surpassing BMW’s sales of 332,388 units. However, this calculation includes Mercedes’ van sales. Even with a margin of error, Tesla’s nearly 160,000 vehicle lead is substantial. This marks the first time an American automaker has held the luxury sales crown in nearly 25 years.
This outcome is not surprising considering Tesla’s progress towards overtaking the German brands a year ago. Tesla’s success defies industry trends, as it has proven that electric vehicles can appeal to a wide audience. Furthermore, Tesla has achieved this feat with a lineup that is 50% sedans, in a market where non-crossover vehicles are thought to be less popular.
Tesla significantly outsold other American automakers in EV sales in 2022, with no other luxury brand coming close to its numbers. Audi, for example, only sold 15,677 EVs. Among non-luxury brands, Ford came in second place with 55,075 EVs sold.
As Tesla enters 2023, it is well-positioned to maintain its leadership in luxury and EV sales, as it continues to expand its production capabilities at Gigafactory. The company may see an additional boost if it can finally begin production of the Cybertruck this year. However, “legacy” automakers are investing billions in electrification to catch up to Tesla, so its competitive advantage may not last forever.
