Tesla Nonetheless Dominates California EV Gross sales — And Tesla Nonetheless Massively Supported By California

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Digging into 2025 electrical car gross sales in California, Tesla was nonetheless completely dominant. As you’ll see within the charts beneath, Tesla sells an unlimited quantity extra EVs within the state than another auto firm, and its standard Mannequin Y and Mannequin 3 are the first and 4th hottest fashions within the state total. And that brings up some nice factors a CleanTechnica reader named Assaf introduced up earlier right this moment:

“Tesla nonetheless being third best-selling model in CA (although most likely solely fifth OEM) — vs. its far decrease place in remainder of US — illustrates a reality that’s not talked about almost sufficient, neither right here and certainly not elsewhere within the media:

“Tesla owes its existence and success to California — California insurance policies, its economic system, and the environmental tendencies of its inhabitants. With out California, Tesla would have by no means gotten off the bottom, or would have crashed shortly after take-off.

“And in return to these company- and career-saving favors, since 2020 Elon Musk has been stabbing California within the again repeatedly. Both he’s been taking part in the Lengthy Con on Californians and determined it’s time to indicate his true face. Or, very charitably, California (and Tesla itself) have fallen sufferer to the world’s worst case of middle-age disaster.

“As tradition wars proceed to find out what individuals understand as details, IMHO you will need to hammer this level repeatedly.”

Wonderful factors, Assaf.

With that mentioned, let’s look nearer on the outcomes of this mutually helpful relationship between Tesla and California.

Tesla offered almost 180,000 automobiles in California in 2025. The auto model with the second highest EV gross sales was Hyundai, with 25,123. It’s not even shut, not even shut to shut.

Among the many 10 prime promoting car fashions within the Golden State in 2025, the Tesla Mannequin Y was #1 by far, surpassing 110,000 gross sales, whereas the #2 Toyota RAV4 didn’t even attain 66,000. The Tesla Mannequin 3 was in 4th place, with almost 54,000 gross sales.

Amongst SUVs and vehicles, the Mannequin Y was after all #1 as effectively. One different electrical car made it onto the highest 10 checklist, although. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 landed precisely in tenth. Nevertheless, there have been additionally three fashions between the Mannequin Y and the IONIQ 5 which have each electrical and non-electric variations — the Ford F-Collection, the Chevy Silverado, and the Chevy Equinox.

Amongst automobiles, the Tesla Mannequin 3 was the second greatest vendor within the state, solely trailing the Toyota Camry.

The dominance of Tesla on this market is gigantic. One would suppose that Elon Musk and Tesla would chorus from making California and Californians enemies and risking all of this, however even regardless of quite a lot of controversies in recent times, it’s clear many Californians nonetheless see Teslas as the perfect choices in the marketplace.

Sure, Tesla gross sales had been down considerably in 2025, however it’s nonetheless in a league of its personal in California. Will that change in 2026, or will Tesla proceed to be on the prime of auto gross sales charts?