Tesla Model Y and Model 3 set new sales record worldwide

Tesla Model Y and Model 3 are the top electric vehicles globally for September 2025. Both models sold more units than any other plug-in cars. The following details explain why these two cars stay ahead.

Best-selling worldwide

Model Y sold nearly 141,000 units in September. Model 3 reached more than 67,000 sales. This marks their highest numbers for any September. Model Y grew 16% compared to last year’s September, and Model 3 went up 8%. Both cars have been in the market for several years, but they still attract many buyers.​

Tesla’s third quarter was strong. The company built 447,450 cars and delivered 497,099 globally. The total Model Y and Model 3 deliveries reached 481,166 in the quarter. U.S. buyers contributed to the numbers as people tried to get the $7,500 EV tax credit before it expired.​

Market details

In China, Model Y’s momentum was good in September because the new Model Y L came out. Tesla’s China factory supports both local sales and exports. Model Y was the best-selling passenger EV in China that month. By October, sales dropped sharply, hitting the lowest point since late 2022.​

For Europe, Model Y returned as the best-selling electric car in September 2025. Yet, total Tesla sales are down compared to last year. For example, sales in Germany dropped over 30% in October. In Europe, electric car sales grew, but Tesla’s share slipped.​

In the United States, Model Y sold about 232,000 units in the first nine months of the year. Model 3 followed with close to 131,000 sales. Market share for Tesla remains high, though figures are lower compared to 2024.​

Why buyers prefer Model Y and Model 3

Both cars offer good value for the price. Model 3 costs about the same as popular sedans like Camry, but packs more features. Model Y and Model 3 include technology features such as Full Self-Driving (Supervised) and advanced driver assistance.​

Model Y’s safety scores are high. It received a five-star safety rating and has low rollover risk. The range for the newest Model Y version reaches up to 821 kilometers CLTC, which is about 660 kilometers WLTP.​

After the U.S. tax credit ended, Tesla might face lower demand in the coming months. Other car makers like BYD and Xiaomi sell strong competitors in China, with Xiaomi’s YU7 outselling Model Y in October.​

Even so, Model Y and Model 3 sold over 1.4 million units worldwide so far this year. Tesla still leads in key markets, yet will need to keep adapting.

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