- The Toyota RAV4 was the world’s best-selling car in 2024
- The Tesla Model Y gave up the crown, partly because a refresh paused production
The 2025 Toyota RAV4 was the world’s best-selling car in 2024, according to a new report.
Felipe Munoz, an analyst with global industry analysis firm JATO Dynamics, explains that the RAV4, also sold as the Toyota Wildlander in some markets, “overtook the Tesla Model Y, the leader in 2023, by less than 3,000 units.”
RAV4 sales grew by 11% globally in 2024, while Model Y sales fell by 3%. Toyota took half the top 10 spots.
The RAV4’s accomplishment is all the more remarkable considering that the RAV4 that won the title was on its way out at the time. Toyota redesigned the compact SUV completely for the 2026 model year, making it hybrid-only.
Tesla, meanwhile, suffered a challenging year headlined by protests at dealerships on several continents over CEO Elon Musk’s high-profile political activities. Our analysis finds that Tesla sales peaked in February of 2023.
However, normal production fluctuations might have cost the Model Y its title. Tesla’s compact SUV received a facelift with a new, Cybertruck-inspired front end during the year.
Factories slow production to transition to new parts as part of a facelift. A difference of just 3,000 units could mean Tesla lost its crown, in part, because it paused factories in several countries to retool for the revised model.