Source: YuanAuto

On March 5, Tesla China revealed to YuanAuto that the Tesla Model Y sold 1.09 million units in 2024, narrowly edging out the Toyota Corolla by 10,000 units to reclaim the title of global passenger car sales champion.

Notably, BYD also features on the list of "2024 World's Best-Selling Passenger Cars," a ranking that concisely highlights the most successful auto sales. With annual sales of 570,000 units, BYD's Song series surpassed the Volkswagen Tiguan to secure the ninth position.

Compared to 2023, the Tesla Model Y's absolute lead has diminished. In 2023, its margin over the second-place vehicle as the world's best-selling passenger car was significantly larger than the 10,000-unit lead it enjoyed in 2024.

In the domestic market, the Tesla Model Y averaged 40,000 units sold per month in 2024. Coupled with its average selling price exceeding RMB 250,000, its significant share of the electric vehicle market has garnered envy from competitors. Consequently, since the second half of last year, a flurry of "Model Y killers" have entered the market, including NIO's LeDao L60, Huawei's HarmonyOS Smart Ride R7, and Zeekr 7X.

Half a year later, in March 2025, while these "killers" have yet to dethrone the Model Y, its sales have declined compared to previous years. The transition period between the old and new models of the Model Y, which affected production, is a crucial factor. However, the diversion of sales by these competitors cannot be overlooked.

According to official news, deliveries of the renewed Model Y commenced in late February. Featuring an all-new design both inside and out, richer comfort configurations, and industry-leading energy consumption of 11.9Wh/100km, the new car is equipped with new weapons to tackle market competition.

During YuanAuto's test drive of the renewed Model Y on March 4, the enhancement in the driving experience was remarkable. For instance, the steering wheel damping adjustment is now nearly seamless when cornering, which, combined with the newly tuned suspension system, contrasts sharply with the soft and misleading handling of most competitors in the same class. This provides an excellent balance between comfort and handling.

However, the renewed Model Y also presents some design concerns for YuanAuto. Firstly, it retains the screen-based gear shift from the renewed Model 3, which has been criticized for being less intuitive. Especially in complex road conditions or when frequent gear shifting is required, it may not feel as smooth.

Secondly, while the domestic version of the renewed Model Y has incorporated a turn signal lever (the renewed Model 3 uses a button-type turn signal), the lever has a strong plastic feel and lacks clear tactile feedback. Additionally, the renewed Model Y falls short compared to new force models in the same class in terms of voice assistants and intelligent assisted driving. For domestic users accustomed to "fully equipped as standard" from new force brands, the renewed Model Y may lose some potential customers as a result.

The comprehensively renewed Model Y will face even more intense challenges this year. Besides the aforementioned NIO LeDao, Huawei HarmonyOS Smart Ride, and Zeekr, mainstream new force brands such as XPeng and Li Auto will also introduce important new vehicles in 2025.

Based on YuanAuto's test drive experience, if you enjoy driving while also needing to consider family use, the Model Y's chassis tuning and power response are sufficient to overlook its "anti-human design" and the lack of some advantageous features found in new force models in the same class. However, if you prioritize smart experience and cost-effectiveness, domestic competitors like XPeng and NIO LeDao may be the ultimate choice for those willing to wait.

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