Based on Estimates: Tesla Model S is Best-Selling Large Luxury Car in US

Many classify the Tesla Model S in the electric vehicle segment. This is one interpretation of where the Model S should be "positioned" in the automotive industry. However, many others (more accurately) pit the Model S against its direct competitors in the large luxury car segment. Regardless of how you choose to classify the Tesla Model S, the latest estimates prove the Tesla Model S is the #1 best-selling car in both the electric vehicle segment and the large luxury car segment in the US automotive market.

According to EV Obsession*, the Tesla Model S was the #1 best-selling large luxury car (or “premium car,” as some might prefer to call the class) in the United States in 2015. One important caveat, Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA) doesn’t report sales/deliveries by country. And various outlets estimate Tesla sales using a variety of methods. 

To that end, EV Obsession estimated 26,566 Tesla Model S sales in the US in 2015. Assuming this estimate is correct, the Tesla Model S outsold the Mercedes S-Class, the BMW 7-Series, the BMW 6-Series, the Audi A7, the Audi A8, the Porsche Panamera, and every other car in this class. Here’s a quick look at how all these cars compared in 2015 vs. 2014 (see below).

Giving the conventional automakers a little bit of slack, you could note that if you combined their various models within this class, Mercedes would be a little bit above Tesla. However, BMW, Porsche, and Audi would be… well, still quite far behind. And, of course, Tesla doesn’t have the extensive dealer network Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, and Audi have. Tesla doesn’t have the decades of brand building and advertising. And Tesla doesn’t have the production capacity of these giant, well-established automakers. Nevertheless, Tesla Motors has taken the large luxury car segment by storm in 2015 -- this graph says it all...

Think the folks at Mercedes, BMW, Porsche, and Audi are getting a little bit concerned about Tesla Motors at this point? 

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*Source: EV Obsession via Good Car Bad Car (hat tip: RobStark, TMC) / Photos: Car Magazine UK