For 2023, Electrek has determined to make the Tesla Mannequin Y its automobile of the 12 months. Effectively, it’s not as a lot us who determined, automobile patrons did.

With Mannequin Y turning into the primary electrical automobile to develop into the best-selling automobile on the planet, how can we not make it the automobile of the 12 months?

Usually, when selecting a brand new automobile of the 12 months, publications select new autos that launched that 12 months. And there have been loads of implausible new electrical autos that got here to market in 2023.

However we really feel it’s extra acceptable to decide on the electrical automobile that has had the most effective impression this 12 months, and by that standards, I believe Mannequin Y is the plain winner.

All year long, Mannequin Y has damaged data throughout many markets by not solely turning into the best-selling electrical automobile but additionally turning into the best-selling automobile interval in these markets.

Final 12 months, Mannequin Y already turned the fourth best-selling automobile on the planet behind solely the Ford F-Collection, Toyota Rav4, and Toyota Corolla.

Mannequin Y was at about 750,000 items, whereas the Corolla was sitting in first with 1.1 million.

In 2023, with out all these new data in large markets, the electrical automobile is on observe to beat that quantity whereas the Corolla is barely down.

That ought to make the Tesla Mannequin Y the best-selling passenger automobile on the planet in 2023.

Tesla achieved that by including Mannequin Y manufacturing to Gigafactory Texas and Berlin on prime of the prevailing manufacturing in Fremont, California, and Shanghai, China.

On the demand aspect, Tesla needed to lower costs all year long to maintain orders coming in amid rising rates of interest, however the automaker was in a position to do this due to its industry-leading gross margin.

The feat can also be spectacular contemplating the truth that Mannequin Y begins at precisely twice the $22,0000 beginning worth of the Corolla within the US.

Many of the {industry} laughed at Elon Musk when the CEO estimated the demand for the Mannequin Y between 500,000 and 1,000,000 items per 12 months again in 2016. 

Now, it’s even exceeding that.

It’s arduous to overstate the impression of getting an electrical automobile program now reaching 1 million items yearly and turning into the best-selling passenger automobile on the planet.

Tesla’s mission was at all times to speed up the transition to electrical autos each instantly with its personal autos and not directly by placing strain on the {industry}. The Mannequin Y managed to do each by including an infinite variety of EVs on the street which are changing gasoline mileage and by exhibiting the remainder of the {industry} that in the event that they need to have the best-selling automobile now, it must be electrical.

Tesla Mannequin Y

It’s clear why Mannequin Y sells so nicely. It took every part Tesla did nice with Mannequin 3, and there’s numerous that, and made it right into a kind issue that matches the preferred section on the planet: small SUVs/crossovers.

The automobile has the efficiency and driving dynamics of a sports activities automobile, the cargo area of a small SUV, and that’s subjective, clearly, however it appears implausible.

The design is easy but sturdy. Many say it appears an excessive amount of like Mannequin 3, however can’t you blame Tesla if it occurs that Mannequin 3’s design transforms so nicely right into a crossover?

Mannequin Y may have a manufacturing unit tow bundle with a small however nonetheless helpful 3,500-lbs towing capability. This contributes to creating Mannequin Y a type of Swiss military knife of a automobile.

The Mannequin Y additionally has the identical benefits as all Tesla autos, just like the over-the-air software program updates that make the automobile higher (for probably the most half) each few months.

I do know that the spartan inside of the Mannequin Y is a bit polarizing, however I prefer it:

It’s not crowded with buttons and controls. Even the AC followers and audio system are hidden. It helps create a zen feeling to the automobile’s inside. Every time I sit in my Mannequin 3 (very comparable inside to Mannequin Y), I really feel relaxed, which is a welcomed feeling when you find yourself about to take a seat Montreal site visitors for an hour.

Additionally, in the event you haven’t sat within the newest era of Mannequin Y and Mannequin 3, I might advocate it. Tesla has made numerous enhancements to its seats. I perceive that it is dependent upon your physique kind, however it’s excellent for me (6’0″, 180 lbs).

The Full Self-Driving bundle is a wild card, and its worth is dependent upon your religion in Tesla delivering on its promise, however Autopilot is a strong degree 2 driver help system.

If I used to be going to record all of the cool know-how within the Mannequin Y, we might be right here all day, however as a Northerner, I need to point out the very environment friendly warmth pump in Mannequin Y. It’s a sport changer for winter driving in colder climates.

With all that know-how, good design, and efficiency, a beginning worth of $44,000, which is $4,000 lower than the typical new automobile worth within the US, and as much as 330 miles of vary, it’s straightforward to see why Mannequin Y can be so fashionable.

It’s so fashionable that it’s now the best-selling passenger automobile on the planet. However immediately, it receives its largest honor but: being Electrek’s automobile of the 12 months.