Wed, Nov 2, 2016 2:38 AM
Best selling automobiles are those passenger cars and light trucks which, since the introduction of the Benz Patent Motorwagen in 1886, can lay claim to being the highest selling vehicles in the markets they compete in.
While references to verify the manufacturers' claims have been included, there is always the possibility of inaccuracy or hyperbole. Also note that a single vehicle can be sold concurrently under several nameplates in different markets, as with for example the Nissan Sunny; in such circumstances manufacturers often provide only cumulative units sold figures for all models. As a result, there is no definitive standard for measuring units sold; Volkswagen has claimed its Beetle as the bestselling car in history as it did not substantially change throughout its production run. By contrast, Toyota has applied the Corolla nameplate to 11 generations since 1966, which have sold over 40 million through July 2013.
World's bestsellers
Three cars have been widely acknowledged as the "bestselling automobile in the world" since Ford built its millionth Model T on December 10, 1915. The Model T itself remained the highest seller until forty five years after production ceased in 1927. On February 17, 1972 Volkswagen claimed that the Ford had been superseded by the Beetle, when the 15,007,034th was manufactured. Although The Model T has subsequently been credited with 16.5 million units sold, this anomaly is moot in light of the Beetle reaching 21 million.
The Beetle remained the bestselling vehicle until the late 1990s, when it was itself overtaken by the Toyota Corolla. However, this was an example of the modern practice of applying a brand name across a range of vehicles, and retaining it for marketing purposes even as the car changes. While the first Corolla in 1966 was rear wheel drive and rode on a 2286 mm wheelbase, the current front wheel drive versions share a 2600 mm wheelbase and use a mechanically unrelated platform. The Beetle's overall design, both aesthetically and mechanically, changed so little over the course of its 65-year run that it's possible to mount a 1936 body on a 2003 chassis or vice versa .
Image | Automobile | Production | Units Sold | Years sold | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ford Model T | 1908–27 | 16,500,000 | 1908–27 | The first car to achieve one million, five million, ten million and fifteen million units sold. By 1914, it was estimated that nine out of every ten cars in the world were Fords. | |
Volkswagen Beetle | 1938–2003 | 21,529,464 | 1972–97 | The first car to achieve twenty million units sold. | |
Toyota Corolla | 1966–present | 40,000,000 | 1966–present | The 40 million milestone was reached in July 2013. However, the model type has been different over the years. |
National bestsellers
Country | Image | Automobile | Years sold | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | Ford Falcon | 1960–present | Over 3,000,000. | |
Brazil | Volkswagen Gol | 1980–present | Over 4,500,000. | |
China | Volkswagen Santana | 1984–2013 | Over 1,670,000 domestically produced Santana up to 2008. | |
Czech Republic | Škoda Octavia | 1996–present | Over 6,000,000 to 2016. | |
France | Renault Clio | 1990–present | 12,300,000 to 2013. | |
Germany | Volkswagen Golf | 1974–present | Over 25,000,000 to 2006. | |
India | Hindustan Ambassador | 1958–2014 | 4,000,000 until 2005 | |
Italy | Fiat Uno | 1983–present (1983–1995 in Italy) | Approximately 8,800,000 worldwide to 2004. | |
Japan | Toyota Corolla | 1966–present | > | |
Malaysia | Perodua Myvi | 2005–present | 77,657 at 2010.(or about 1,500,000 since 2005.) | |
Poland | 126p | 1973–2000 | 3,318,674 in Poland, (plus 126 model – 1,352,912 in Italy; 2,069 in Austria, and an unknown number in Yugoslavia.) | |
Spain | SEAT Ibiza | 1984–present | 3,949,597 up to 2008. | |
Sweden | Volvo 200 Series | 1974–93 | 2,862,573. | |
Turkey | Renault Symbol | 1999–present | 260,000 up to 2013. | |
Ukraine | ZAZ Zaporozhets | 1960–94 | 3,422,444. | |
United Kingdom | Morris Mini | 1959–2000 | 5,505,874. | |
United States | Ford F-Series | 1948–present | Over 34,000,000 America's bestselling vehicle for 28 consecutive years; 33,900,000 in 12 generations to May 2010. |
Brand bestsellers
Brand | Image | Automobile | Production | Units Sold | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo Alfasud | 1972–1989 | 1,017,387. | ||
Alpine | Alpine A310 | 1971–1984 | 11,616. | ||
American Motors | AMC Hornet | 1970–77 | Approximately 860,000. | ||
Aston Martin | Aston Martin DB7 | 1993–2003 | 7,000 | ||
Autobianchi | Autobianchi A112 | 1969–1986 | 1,254,178. | ||
BMW | BMW 3 Series | 1975–present | Over 14,000,000 to 2015. | ||
Buick | Buick LeSabre | 1959–2005 | Over 6,000,000. | ||
Bugatti | Bugatti Type 40 | 1926–30 | Approximately 800. | ||
Cadillac | Cadillac De Ville | 1959–2005 | Approximately 3,870,000 excluding early Series 62 hardtops, 1981–1988, 1991–93, and 2000–05. (Total production for 1981–1988, 1991–93 and 2000–05 is unknown but a good guess is over 1,300,000.) | ||
Checker | Checker Marathon | 1961–82 | 10,559 not counting taxicabs and private sales for 1961–63, 1976 and 1980–82 (private sales for 1961–62, 1976 and 1980–82 are unknown). | ||
Chevrolet | Chevrolet Impala | 1958–present | Over 13,000,000 to 1996. | ||
Chrysler | Chrysler Newport | 1961–81 | Approximately 1,920,000 (excluding early Newport hardtops). | ||
Citroën | Citroën 2CV | 1948–90 | 3,872,583. | Including commercial variants, the total figure is approximately nine million | |
Continental | Continental Mark II | 1956–57 | 3,012 (only car produced by the short lived Continental division of the Ford Motor Company). | ||
Crosley | Crosley | 1939–42 1946–49 |
62,210 before introduction of series names in 1950 (does not include 1949 Hot Shot). | ||
DeSoto | DeSoto Custom | 1939–42 1946–52 |
Approximately 570,000. | ||
De Tomaso | De Tomaso Pantera | 1970–1991 | 7,260 produced over a single generation | ||
Dodge | Dodge Coronet | 1949–59 1965–76 |
Approximately 2,060,000 in six generations not counting 1949–53 4-doors, 1953 coupes, Dodge Chargers and Super Bees. (Production of 1949–53 4-doors and 1953 coupes is unknown but a reasonable guess is about 400,000 total.) | ||
Eagle | Eagle Talon | 1990–98 | Approximately 200,000. | ||
Edsel | Edsel Ranger | 1958–60 | 50,803. | ||
Excalibur | Excalibur Series II | 1970–82 | 2,230. | ||
Facel | Facellia | 1960–1964 | 1,500 | ||
Ferrari | Ferrari 360 | 1999–2004 | Over 17,000 coupés and convertibles. | ||
Fiat | Fiat Uno | 1983–present | Approximately 8,800,000 worldwide to 2004. | Sold over six million in Western Europe before being replaced by the Punto in 1995, while production continued in South Africa, Poland and Brazil. | |
Ford | Ford F-Series | 1948–present | Over 34,000,000 America's bestselling vehicle for 28 consecutive years; 33,900,000 in 12 generations to May 2010. | ||
Frazer | Frazer Standard | 1947–51 | Approximately 90,000. | ||
Henry J | Henry J Deluxe | 1951 | 43,400. | ||
Hindustan | Hindustan Ambassador | 1958–2014 | Almost 4,000,000. | ||
Holden | Holden Commodore | 1978–present | 2,400,000 to 2006. | ||
Honda | Honda Civic | 1972–present | Over 16,500,000 to May 2006. | ||
Hudson | Hudson Super | 1916–26 1940–42 1946–50 |
Approximately 600,000 not counting 1916–17 and 1940–42. (Production for 1916–17 and 1940–42 is unknown but a reasonable guess is about 80,000.) | ||
Imperial | Imperial Crown | 1957–70 | Approximately 127,000. | ||
Jaguar | Jaguar XJ | 1968–present | 800,000 up to 2005. | ||
Jeep | Jeep Cherokee (XJ) | 1984–present | 2,884,172 in North America until 2001; production continues in China. | ||
Kaiser | Kaiser Deluxe | 1949–53 | Approximately 130,000. | ||
Koenigsegg | Koenigsegg CCX | 2006–10 | 29. | ||
Lada/AvtoVAZ | Lada Riva VAZ-2105/04/07 |
1980–present | 13,500,000 until exports to Europe were discontinued in 1997. | Production continues in Egypt. | |
Lagonda | 11, 11.9, 12 and 12/24 | 1913–26 | over 6,000 | ||
Land Rover | Series/Defender | 1948–2015 | over 2,000,000 (approx) | ||
Lamborghini | Lamborghini Gallardo | 2004–2013 | 14,022 coupés and convertibles to November 2013. | ||
Lancia | Lancia Ypsilon | 1996–present | over 870,000 to 2005. | ||
Lincoln | Lincoln Town Car | 1981–2011 | Approximately 2,290,000 not counting 2005–2011. (Production of 2005–2011 is unknown but a reasonable guess is about 160,000.) | ||
Lotus | Lotus Elise | 1996–present | over 20,000 produced over two generations to December 2004. | ||
McLaren | McLaren 12C | 2011–2014 | 1000th sold by June 2012 in a single generation. | ||
Maserati | Maserati Biturbo | 1981–1994 | Over 38,000 | ||
Mazda | Mazda Familia | 1963–2003 | Over 10,000,000 up to 1995. | ||
Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 1993–present | 6,900,000 to November 2006. | ||
Mercury | Mercury Grand Marquis | 1983–2011 | 2,687,888 from 1983–2009 (excludes 2010–2011 models); also excludes approximately 270,000 1975–82 Grand Marquis built as part of the Marquis series. | ||
Messerschmitt | Messerschmitt KR200 | 1955–1964 | 30,286 | ||
Metropolitan | Metropolitan | 1958–61 | 55,215 as a separate marque under AMC. | ||
Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi Lancer | 1973–present | Over 6,000,000 to the end of 2006. | ||
Nash | Nash Statesman | 1950–56 | Approximately 340,000. | ||
Nissan | Nissan Sunny/Sentra/Pulsar/Almera | 1966–present | Over 15,900,000. Ten generations, and four nameplates depending on marketplace. | ||
Oldsmobile | Oldsmobile Cutlass | 1961–99 | 11,900,000 across several platforms and generations. | ||
Opel | Opel Corsa | 1982–present | Over 18,000,000 sold worldwide in 25 years and in 4 generations. 10 million of them were sold only in Europe. | ||
Packard | Packard Eight | 1933–36 1938 1942 1948–50 |
Approximately 250,000. | ||
Peel | Peel Trident | 1965–66 | 82 in a single generation. | ||
Perodua | Perodua Myvi | 2005–present | 77,657 at 2010. (or about 1,500,000since 2005.) | ||
Peugeot | Peugeot 206 | 1998–2012 | Approximately 8,600,000 to 2012. | ||
Plymouth | Plymouth Fury | 1959–78 | Approximately 3,680,000 (counting VIPs, but not counting 1959 and 1962 Sport Furys and 1975–77 Gran Furys). | ||
Pontiac | Pontiac Grand Am | 1973–75, 1978–80, 1985–2005 | Over 4,000,000. | ||
Porsche | Porsche 911 | 1963–present | 820,000 produced up to 2013. | ||
Rambler | Rambler Classic | 1961–66 | Approximately 1,460,000 (including those produced in 1966 under AMC). | ||
Renault | Renault Clio | 1991–present | 12,300,000 up to 2013. | ||
Rolls-Royce | Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow | 1965–80 | 29,030 produced over a single generation. | ||
Saab | Saab 900 | 1978–93 | 908,810. in the first generation. | ||
Saturn | Saturn S-Series | 1991–2002 | Approximately 2,210,000 not counting 2002 (sales of 2002 are unknown). | ||
SEAT | SEAT Ibiza | 1984–present | 3,949,597 up to 2008. | The sales of the fourth generation of the SEAT Ibiza, as well as those of its derivatives (such as the SEAT Córdoba and the SEAT Inca, or the rebadged versions) are not included in the figures. | |
Simca | Simca 1100 | 1967–1982 | 2,139,400 | Figures include a small number of complete knock down(CKD) kits and commercial versions. | |
Smart | Smart Fortwo | 1998– | Over 1,500,000 by mid-2013. | ||
Studebaker | Studebaker Champion | 1939–42 1946–58 |
Approximately 1,320,000. | ||
Subaru | Subaru Legacy | 1988–present | Over 3,000,000 to 2005. | ||
Škoda | Škoda Octavia | 1996–present | Over 6,000,000 to 2016. | ||
Toyota | Toyota Corolla | 1966–present | 40,000,000 through July 2013. | ||
Tesla Motors | Tesla Model S | 2012–present | 100,000 by December 2015. | ||
Trabant | Trabant | 1957–91 | Over 3,000,000. | ||
Volkswagen | Volkswagen Golf | 1974–present | 30,000,000 by mid June 2013. Became Volkswagen's bestseller in 2002. | ||
Volvo | Volvo 200 Series | 1974–93 | 2,862,573. | ||
Willys | Willys 77 | 1933–36 | Approximately 68,000. | ||
ZAZ | Zaporozhets | 1960–94 | 3,422,444. |
Class bestsellers
Class | Image | Automobile | Production | Units Sold | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
All-electric car | Nissan Leaf | 2010–present | 200,000 sold by December 2015. | The world's bestselling all-electric car in history. | |
Full-size car | Chevrolet Impala | 1958–1985 1994–1996 2000–present |
Over 13,000,000 between its introduction and 1996. | The bestselling car in America in a single year, with 1,046,514 sold in 1965 including the Impala SS. | |
Hybrid electric vehicle | Toyota Prius | 1997–present | 3,600,000 in three generations up to November 2015. Combined sales of the Prius familynameplate reached 5,264,307 units through July 2015, |
The world's all-time best selling hybrid electric vehicle. | |
Pickup truck | Ford F-Series | 1948–present | Over 34,000,000 America's bestselling vehicle for 28 consecutive years; 33,900,000 in 12 generations to May 2010. | World's bestselling truck for thirty consecutive years. | |
Plug-in hybrid | Chevrolet Volt | 2010–present | 100,000 sold by October 2015. | The world's bestselling plug-in hybrid. Sales include over 9,900 Opel/Vauxhall Ampera variants sold in Europe through September 2015. |
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Full-size luxury car | Cadillac De Ville | 1959–2005 | Approximately 3,870,000 excluding early Series 62 hardtops, 1981–1988, 1991–93, and 2000–05. (Total production for 1981–1988, 1991–93 and 2000–05 is unknown but a good guess is over 1,300,000.) | ||
Racing car | Porsche 911 GT3 Cup | 1998– | 1,400 up to 2011 | ||
Rotary engined car | Mazda RX-7 | 1978–2002 | 811,634 in three generations to 2005. | ||
Single-cylinder car | Iso/BMW/VELAM/Romi Isetta | 1953–61 | 161,728 in all variations | ||
Sports car | Nissan Z-cars | 1969–99 2003–present |
1,535,000 in five generations up to 2005. | ||
Two-seat convertiblesports car | Mazda MX-5 | 1989–present | Over 940,000 in the first two generations to June 2014. | Verified by the Guinness Book of Records as the bestselling two-seater, convertible (open top) sports car in history. | |
Van | Volkswagen Type 2 (Transporter) | 1950–present | Over 12,000,000 in six generations to August 2015 | Best-selling van nameplate of all-time. Second-generation T2 sold for 46 years (1967–2013), longest production run of any van and second-longest production of any Volkswagen (except for Type 1 Beetle). |