There’s a reason why the Tesla Model 3 is affectionately known as the “California Camry” in California. According to the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), the Model 3, Tesla’s second-best-selling vehicle, outsold the Toyota Camry last year. In 2021, the Toyota Camry was the best-selling vehicle in California.
The same pattern can be seen in the light truck segment. Last year, the Tesla Model Y was once again the top light truck in California in terms of new vehicle registrations. For the second year in a row, the Model Y outperformed the Toyota RAV4.
According to CNCDA data, the Tesla Model 3 received 78,934 registrations in California in 2022, outnumbering the Toyota Camry, which received 55,967 registrations. Last year, the Tesla Model Y received 87,257 registrations, while the Toyota RAV4 received 59,794 registrations.
Tesla’s performance in comparison to Toyota is outstanding. The Japanese automaker is still a dominant presence in California, accounting for 17% of the state’s vehicle registrations last year (289,304 units). With 186,711 vehicle registrations, Tesla held 11% of California’s auto segment last year.
A glance at the sales trend in California reveals that Toyota is declining while Tesla is increasing its market share. According to an Automotive News analysis, Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus’ market share has dropped since 2021.
Tesla, on the other hand, nearly doubled its market share within the same time period.
This similar trend was underlined in a recent S&P Global Mobility research, which found that Toyota and Honda are losing customers to businesses like as Tesla. According to Experian data, there is a very clear explanation for this: Toyota and Honda don’t have a robust EV selection.
“While car affordability remained a key worry in 2022, sales of pure EVs climbed by over 50 percent from 2021. “California is obviously doing its share to encourage EV sales,” remarked the state’s dealers association.
According to Loren McDonald, CEO of the analytical firm EVAdoption, Tesla purchasers now are the same people who bought Toyotas in the past.
