Tesla has become the top luxury brand in the US automotive market – the first time an American automaker claims the title.
For a few years now, Tesla vehicles have dominated many luxury segments in sales in the United States.
However, due to the limited number of models available, four to be exact, other automakers could still be top sellers overs – meaning that Tesla models are often best-selling in their own segments, but Tesla as an overall brand is not.
Foreign automakers, especially German automakers like Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, have historically been dominant.
But with recent increases in production capacity, Tesla is now delivering more volume in the United States even with just four models.
Now Tesla has taken the top luxury automotive position for the first time in the United States and, according to Automotive News, it’s the first time in almost 25 years that the position has been held by an American automaker.
Tesla doesn’t break down sales per market, and therefore, we have to use registration data and estimates.
The data is not perfect, but everything points to a massive beat by Tesla in 2022.
Here are the top eight best-selling luxury brands in the United States in 2022:
- Tesla: 491,000
- BMW: 332,388
- Mercedes-Benz: 286,764
- Lexus: 258,704
- Audi: 186,875
- Cadillac: 134,726
- Acura: 102,306
- Volvo: 102,038
In 2021, BMW had beaten Tesla by about 23,000 units based on estimates.
Top comment by PeterO
I have been daily driving Teslas for 10 years. Many will argue whether Tesla is luxury, premium, or ordinary. I really don't care. The simplicity of the design (interior and exterior) suits my tastes and needs. The interior I find soothing and I enjoy the absence of chaos (knobs, dials, switches, vents, etc.). Less is more. Tesla's philosophy of quiet, smooth, quick appeals to my senses. The exterior is also simpler than most. I still find the original Tesla Model S wonderfully and timelessly attractive.
Teslas are not for everyone or every taste. I loved my father's Jaguar XJ sedan, the exterior and especially the interior. That car had a beautiful, rich, LUXURIOUS interior and it smelled wonderful. Sadly, the Jag had limitations, notably reliability, mechanical and electronic. Lucas is an evil sidekick.
I have owned and driven Mercedes Benzes, BMWs, Porsches, Audis, Lexus, Maseratis, Bentleys, and a few Rollers. IMO, the top of the line MB and BMWs are quite excellent but I find Bentleys are the most luxurious in my book. A rich and elegant interior and exteror. However, I choose to drive Teslas because they are simpler and make me feel comfortable. Many of my friends find Teslas very spartan and not rich and elegant and in a word cheap. We each have our taste and our own sense of style. Teslas work for me and that is all that matters. To each his or her own. Happy trails.
Now it appears that Tesla is the leader by easily 100,000 vehicles, thanks a significant production ramp last year.
Electrek’s Take
It’s good to see an all-electric automaker taking the position for the first time. It’s also special that it’s an American automaker for the first time in a quarter of a century in the US market.
Interestingly, I often meet people who don’t even realize that Tesla is an American automaker, even though it’s arguably the most American automaker based on the percentage of American parts in Tesla’s vehicles.
Now, of course, that’s just the luxury segment, but I think the days where the top overall automakers are all-electric ones are coming sooner than most people think.
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