by Gauk
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 On February 17, 1972 Volkswagen claimed that the Ford had been superseded by the Beetle, when the 15,007,034th was manufactured.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

1927 Ford Model-T.

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.
1961 Volkswagen Type 1 "Beetle". Volkswagen Beetle 1938–2003 21,529,464 1972–97 The first car to achieve twenty million units sold.

1969 Toyota Corolla.

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

Sortable and collapsible table
Country Image Automobile Years sold Notes
Australia

2009 Ford Falcon XR6.

Ford Falcon 1960–present Over 3,000,000.
Brazil

2007 Volkswagen Gol Plus.

Volkswagen Gol 1980–present Over 4,500,000.
China

Volkswagen Santana.

Volkswagen Santana 1984–2013 Over 1,670,000 domestically produced Santana up to 2008.
Czech Republic

Škoda Octavia 1st generation after facelift

Škoda Octavia 1996–present Over 6,000,000 to 2016.
France

Fourth generation Renault Clio.

Renault Clio 1990–present 12,300,000 to 2013.
Germany

Volkswagen Golf .

Volkswagen Golf 1974–present Over 25,000,000 to 2006.
India

Hindustan Ambassador

Hindustan Ambassador 1958–2014 4,000,000 until 2005
Italy

First generation Fiat Uno.

Fiat Uno 1983–present (1983–1995 in Italy) Approximately 8,800,000 worldwide to 2004.
Japan

Eleventh generation Toyota Corolla.

Toyota Corolla 1966–present >
Malaysia Perodua MyVi (front), Kuala Lumpur.jpg Perodua Myvi 2005–present 77,657 at 2010.(or about 1,500,000 since 2005.)
Poland Polski Fiat 126p rocznik 1973.jpg 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 IV 1.4 16V Style front 20100516.jpg

SEAT Ibiza 1984–present 3,949,597 up to 2008.
Sweden

Volvo 240 station wagon.

Volvo 200 Series 1974–93 2,862,573.
Turkey

Second generation Renault Symbol.

Renault Symbol 1999–present 260,000 up to 2013.
Ukraine

Zaporozhets.

ZAZ Zaporozhets 1960–94 3,422,444.
United Kingdom

1993 Mini Cooper.

Morris Mini 1959–2000 5,505,874.
United States

2009 Ford F-150.

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

1979 Alfasud ti

Alfa Romeo Alfasud 1972–1989 1,017,387.
Alpine

Alpine-Renault A310

Alpine A310 1971–1984 11,616.
American Motors

AMC Hornet.

AMC Hornet 1970–77 Approximately 860,000.
Aston Martin

Aston Martin DB7 Volante.

Aston Martin DB7 1993–2003 7,000
Autobianchi

1973 Autobianchi A112 E.

Autobianchi A112 1969–1986 1,254,178.
BMW

First generation BMW 3 Series coupé.

BMW 3 Series 1975–present Over 14,000,000 to 2015.
Buick

1986 Buick LeSabre.

Buick LeSabre 1959–2005 Over 6,000,000.
Bugatti

1929 Bugatti Typ 40 Grand Sport Tourer.

Bugatti Type 40 1926–30 Approximately 800.
Cadillac

Cadillac De Ville.

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.

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

1965 Chevrolet Impala.

Chevrolet Impala 1958–present Over 13,000,000 to 1996.
Chrysler

1961 Chrysler Newport.

Chrysler Newport 1961–81 Approximately 1,920,000 (excluding early Newport hardtops).
Citroën

First generation Citroën 2CV.

Citroën 2CV 1948–90 3,872,583. Including commercial variants, the total figure is approximately nine million
Continental

Continental Mark II.

Continental Mark II 1956–57 3,012 (only car produced by the short lived Continental division of the Ford Motor Company).
Crosley

1948 Crosley.

Crosley 1939–42
1946–49
62,210 before introduction of series names in 1950 (does not include 1949 Hot Shot).
DeSoto

Dodge DeSoto Custom.

DeSoto Custom 1939–42
1946–52
Approximately 570,000.
De Tomaso

De Tomaso Pantera.

De Tomaso Pantera 1970–1991 7,260 produced over a single generation  
Dodge

Dodge Coronet.

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.

Eagle Talon 1990–98 Approximately 200,000.
Edsel

1959 Edsel Ranger.

Edsel Ranger 1958–60 50,803.
Excalibur

Excalibur Series II.

Excalibur Series II 1970–82 2,230.
Facel

1961 Facel Vega Facellia

Facellia 1960–1964 1,500
Ferrari

Ferrari 360 Modena.

Ferrari 360 1999–2004 Over 17,000 coupés and convertibles.
Fiat

First generation Fiat Uno.

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

1955 Ford F-100.

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

1951 Henry J.

Henry J Deluxe 1951 43,400.
Hindustan

Hindustan Ambassador.

Hindustan Ambassador 1958–2014 Almost 4,000,000.
Holden

Holden Commodore (VE).

Holden Commodore 1978–present 2,400,000 to 2006.
Honda

First generation Honda Civic.

Honda Civic 1972–present Over 16,500,000 to May 2006.
Hudson

Hudson Super.

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

1966 Imperial Crown convertible.

Imperial Crown 1957–70 Approximately 127,000.
Jaguar

1972 Jaguar XJ12.

Jaguar XJ 1968–present 800,000 up to 2005.
Jeep

2000 Jeep Cherokee.

Jeep Cherokee (XJ) 1984–present 2,884,172 in North America until 2001; production continues in China.
Kaiser

Kaiser Deluxe

Kaiser Deluxe 1949–53 Approximately 130,000.
Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg CCX

Koenigsegg CCX 2006–10 29.
Lada/AvtoVAZ Lada Riva 1500. 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 Defender 110 Series/Defender 1948–2015 over 2,000,000 (approx)  
Lamborghini

2007 Lamborghini Gallardo.

Lamborghini Gallardo 2004–2013 14,022 coupés and convertibles to November 2013.
Lancia

2012 Lancia Ypsilon

Lancia Ypsilon 1996–present over 870,000 to 2005.
Lincoln

Lincoln Town Car.

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 111S.

Lotus Elise 1996–present over 20,000 produced over two generations to December 2004.
McLaren

2012 McLaren MP4-12C.

McLaren 12C 2011–2014 1000th sold by June 2012 in a single generation.
Maserati

Maserati Biturbo S.

Maserati Biturbo 1981–1994 Over 38,000
Mazda

Mazda 323 Turbo.

Mazda Familia 1963–2003 Over 10,000,000 up to 1995.
Mercedes-Benz

Merceds-Benz C-Class.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class 1993–present 6,900,000 to November 2006.
Mercury

2006–2011 Mercury Grand Marquis

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

1955 Messerschmitt KR200.

Messerschmitt KR200 1955–1964 30,286
Metropolitan

1959 Metropolitan

Metropolitan 1958–61 55,215 as a separate marque under AMC.
Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI TME.

Mitsubishi Lancer 1973–present Over 6,000,000 to the end of 2006.  
Nash

Nash Statesman.

Nash Statesman 1950–56 Approximately 340,000.
Nissan

1972 Datsun 1200.

Nissan Sunny/Sentra/Pulsar/Almera 1966–present Over 15,900,000. Ten generations, and four nameplates depending on marketplace.
Oldsmobile

Image:1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible.

Oldsmobile Cutlass 1961–99 11,900,000 across several platforms and generations.
Opel

First generation Opel Corsa, sold in the United Kingdom as a Vauxhall Nova.

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.

Packard Eight 1933–36
1938
1942
1948–50
Approximately 250,000.
Peel

1965 Peel Trident.

Peel Trident 1965–66 82 in a single generation.
Perodua Perodua MyVi (front), Kuala Lumpur.jpg Perodua Myvi 2005–present 77,657 at 2010. (or about 1,500,000since 2005.)
Peugeot

Peugeot 206.

Peugeot 206 1998–2012 Approximately 8,600,000 to 2012.
Plymouth

Plymouth Fury III convertible.

Plymouth Fury 1959–78 Approximately 3,680,000 (counting VIPs, but not counting 1959 and 1962 Sport Furys and 1975–77 Gran Furys).
Pontiac

2005 Pontiac Grand Am.

Pontiac Grand Am 1973–75, 1978–80, 1985–2005 Over 4,000,000.
Porsche

Porsche 911 SC.

Porsche 911 1963–present 820,000 produced up to 2013.
Rambler

Rambler Classic.

Rambler Classic 1961–66 Approximately 1,460,000 (including those produced in 1966 under AMC).
Renault

Third generation Renault Clio.

Renault Clio 1991–present 12,300,000 up to 2013.
Rolls-Royce

Rolls Royce Silver Shadow

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 1965–80 29,030 produced over a single generation.
Saab

1985 Saab 900CD.

Saab 900 1978–93 908,810. in the first generation.
Saturn

Saturn SL

Saturn S-Series 1991–2002 Approximately 2,210,000 not counting 2002 (sales of 2002 are unknown).
SEAT

SEAT Ibiza Mk4 (2008).

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.

Simca 1100 1967–1982 2,139,400 Figures include a small number of complete knock down(CKD) kits and commercial versions.
Smart

2004 Smart Fortwo

Smart Fortwo 1998– Over 1,500,000 by mid-2013.
Studebaker

Studebaker Champion.

Studebaker Champion 1939–42
1946–58
Approximately 1,320,000.
Subaru

Third generation Subaru Legacy.

Subaru Legacy 1988–present Over 3,000,000 to 2005.
Škoda

Škoda Octavia 1st generation after facelift

Škoda Octavia 1996–present Over 6,000,000 to 2016.
Toyota

A 1976 Toyota Corolla.

Toyota Corolla 1966–present 40,000,000 through July 2013.
Tesla Motors

Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S 2012–present 100,000 by December 2015. 
Trabant

1983 Trabant P601.

Trabant 1957–91 Over 3,000,000.
Volkswagen

Mk.1 Volkswagen Golf.

Volkswagen Golf 1974–present 30,000,000 by mid June 2013. Became Volkswagen's bestseller in 2002.
Volvo

Volvo 240 sedan.

Volvo 200 Series 1974–93 2,862,573.
Willys

1936 Willys 77.

Willys 77 1933–36 Approximately 68,000.
ZAZ

Zaporozhets.

Zaporozhets 1960–94 3,422,444.

Class bestsellers

Class Image Automobile Production Units Sold Notes
All-electric car

Nissan Leaf.

Nissan Leaf 2010–present 200,000 sold by December 2015. The world's bestselling all-electric car in history.
Full-size car

1958 Chevrolet Impala.

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

A second generation Toyota Prius.

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-150 SVT Lightning.

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.

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. 
Full-size luxury car

Cadillac De Ville.

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 997 GT3 Cup.

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 1998– 1,400 up to 2011  
Rotary engined car

A first-generation Mazda RX-7.

Mazda RX-7 1978–2002 811,634 in three generations to 2005.  
Single-cylinder car

BMW Isetta.

Iso/BMW/VELAM/Romi Isetta 1953–61 161,728 in all variations  
Sports car

1970 Datsun 240Z.

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

0385 Porsche Diesel Bus blau.jpg

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).
published by Gauk