Tesla’s popular Model Y electric crossover seems to be on track to dominating the European auto industry this year, with its major lead in the January to October period.
Notably, this achievement will mark the first electric vehicle to rank first in the region’s top-selling list for the calendar year.
Tesla Model Y leads YTD
Automotive News Europe revealed that Tesla Model Y’s sales have significantly beaten its closest rival in the European industry, the Dacia Sandero.
Tesla’s sales so far also pose a huge potential to further increase in the remaining two months of the year, considering its major end-of-the-quarter push.
The preliminary data released last week, including 92% of the EU’s sales, showed that Sandero led with about 289 sales difference over the Tesla Model Y in the first 10 months of 2023.
Interestingly, the remaining 8% representing Sweden’s sales gave the Tesla Model Y an unprecedented lead with 14,139 unit sales through October. In contrast, the Dacia Sandero only sold 1,048 units.
The incorporation of Sweden’s sales data boosted Tesla Model Y’s YTD figure to 212,517 units, indicating a 15,035-unit gap from Dacia Sandero’s 197,482 units.
It is worth noting that the Tesla Model Y has gained the top-selling title in the European market in six separate months, as noted by Teslarati. Meanwhile, the Dacia Sandero claimed the top spot in January, April, and October. Other models led in the other 3 months of the year.
Tesla Model Y key specs
Here are some of the key specs of the Tesla Model Y in Europe:
| Tesla Model Y Specifications | Performance | Maximum Range AWD | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Battery | Maximum range | Maximum range | Standard range |
| Acceleration | 0 – 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. Rollout tolerance deducted | 0 – 100km/h in 5.0 seconds | 0 – 100km/h in 6.9 seconds |
| Range (WLTP) | 514km | 533km | 455 km (19-inch rims) 430 km (20-inch rims) |
| Drive | All-wheel drive with dual motor | All-wheel drive with dual motor | Rear wheel drive |
| Maximum speed | 250 km/h | 217 km/h | 217 km/h |
| Supercharger Max. / Payment method | Max. 250 kW; Payable per use | Max. 250 kW; Payable per use | Max. 170 kW; Payable per use |
Tesla Model Y has been dominating the automotive industry across the world so far this year, aligning with Chief Elon Musk’s previous forecast that the electric crossover will top global sales in 2023. It would be exciting to see how the Tesla Model Y would fare by the end of the year, but it seems unlikely for Dacia Sandero to close that enormous gap in just 2 months.
It would also be interesting to see the upcoming electric Dacia Sandero compete with the Tesla Model Y when it hits the market by 2027 to 2028.
