Tesla Model Y Downs 53-Year-Old Record In Norway, Tops Safety Ratings In Australia

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Tesla’s Model 3 shocked the world, took the auto market by storm, and once production capacity ramped up, was sold and delivered to millions of homes around the world. But it didn’t take long to realize that the Model 3 wouldn’t be Tesla’s best selling vehicle for long. The Model Y, essentially the Model 3 but a bit taller, bigger, and more spacious — a crossover — was destined to be Tesla’s sales champion. Last year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicted the Model Y would become the best selling automobile in the world. In August 2016, when Musk predicted the two vehicles would probably sell 500,000–1,000,000 units per year each, I argued that demand could easily be much higher. We are essentially on track for Elon Musk’s target. We’ll see what happens after that.

Tesla Model Y Breaks 53-Year-Old Auto Sales Record

On the Tesla Model Y’s rise up the sales ladder, it has been the top seller in numerous markets for at least one month, sometimes more. But perhaps the biggest nod to its success comes from a small northerly country in Europe. Norway has long been the world’s EV sales leader in terms of the share of auto sales that are electric — electric vehicle adoption. (About 90% of new vehicle sales in Norway are plugin vehicle sales.) Now, it’s got another record to put on its giant EV records wall. In 1969, 16,699 Volkswagen Beetles were sold in Norway. Since then, no vehicle has had more sales in a single year in Norway. However, the Tesla Model Y had other plans — or one can say Model Y buyers did. The Model Y has just broken the 1969 Beetle’s record — surely with some of the same buyers sharing in both records.

Boom! The record just broke 🤠@tesla Model Y just passed all-time-high sale in a year since the still standing 1969 record; 16699 VW Beetle in Norway

Now at 16701 with 9 days left 🎊

Congratulations @tesla @elonmusk https://t.co/NQh18qhnFa pic.twitter.com/1d0fCD58Yp

— Norwegian Road⚡️ (@NorwegianRoad) December 22, 2022

Model Y just broke the bestselling car record in Norway, held since 1969 by the Beetle! 🇳🇴

— Tesla (@Tesla) December 22, 2022

As of earlier today, the Model Y was up to 16,701 sales in 2022 in Norway. And there’s more than a week left in the year.

Thanks to Norwegian Road for tracking this and sharing the news. Update: I was also informed that elbilstatistikk.no and beetle.teslastats.no deserve a hat tip here.

Tesla Model Y Scores Best Safety Rating in Australia

Tesla has long prioritized safety when designing its cars, and that has led to numerous safety records — set by the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y. This trend has continued Down Under. Like it did in the US and Europe, Tesla notched another safety title in Australia, with the Tesla Model Y scoring the “best overall weighted safety score of any vehicle tested this year by ANCAP.” ANCAP is the Australasian New Car Assessment Program — the automotive safety rating agency for Australia and New Zealand.

Model Y achieved the highest overall weighted safety score of any vehicle tested this year by ANCAP (🇦🇺 & 🇳🇿 safety rating agency)

— Tesla (@Tesla) December 22, 2022

You can dig into the details on the Model Y’s safety rating here, but the gist is the same as it’s been for years — the Tesla Model Y excels in just about every safety metric and with just about every safety feature.

Overall, small electric SUVs are doing very well on the ANCAP safety tests. Aside from the Tesla Model Y, ANCAP highlights other small electric SUVs (and a petrol-powered one) that have gotten 5-star ratings:

There’s that BYD Atto 3 again!

See any other big news about the Tesla Model Y lately? Stay tuned — more is coming. Though, they won’t be the most bullish of stories.