VW Golf dethroned: Tesla Model Y best-selling car in September

The Tesla Model Y has been built in Grünheide in Brandenburg since March 2022. Although the compact SUV, which costs at least 54,000 euros, has been selling well so far, something historic happened in September. For the first time, an electric SUV tops the list of best-selling cars in Germany. The Federal Motor Transport Authority registered 9,846 new registrations of the Tesla Model Y, while the former bestseller VW Golf only had 7,095 new registrations. The truth is, however, that the ongoing shortage of semiconductors means that fewer cars can be built than are ordered.

Tesla Model Y costs at least 46,500 euros

Traditionally, the majority of new registrations are registered as company cars, so the vehicles are leased and returned to the dealer after a certain holding period. For electric cars, a tax rate of just 0.25 percent of the list price applies to business customers, while one percent of the gross list price has to be taxed for petrol and diesel engines. In addition, Model Y customers get an environmental bonus of 7,500 euros, so that the starting price drops to just under 46,500 euros. For this you get the model with rear-wheel drive, acceleration to 100 km/h in less than seven seconds and a range of 430 kilometers. If you want more range or performance and all-wheel drive, you can choose from the following two engine variants:

• Tesla Model Y Maximum range with all-wheel drive. Battery with 82 kWh. Range: 533 kilometers (with 18″ tires). Price: from 56,990 euros
• Tesla Model Y Performance with all-wheel drive. Battery with 82 kWh. Range: 514 kilometers (with 21″ tires). Price: from 65,490 euros

With an exterior length of 4.75 meters, a width of 1.92 meters and a height of 1.62 meters, the Model Y is in a size class with models such as the BMW X3, an Audi Q5 or a Mercedes-Benz GLC. In the cheapest version, an LFP battery is used. AMD hardware is used for the infotainment system. In addition to a Ryzen Embedded V1807B with four Zen 1 cores with SMT and a TDP of 35 or 45 watts, every new Tesla has an RDNA 2 GPU, which relies on a Navi 23 chip. In addition, 8 gigabytes of GDDR6 RAM are installed. Overall, the infotainment system at Tesla has an output of 10 teraflops, so you can play video games in the electric car via the Tesla Arcade.

Also worth reading: Charging stations for e-cars: is the German network on the brink of collapse?

Tesla Model Y Sales Success Collection:

• For the first time, the Tesla Model Y tops the list of the best-selling cars in Germany. 9,846 new Teslas were registered in September. The former sales king VW Golf only has 7,095 new registrations.
• After deducting an environmental bonus of EUR 7,500, customers must invest at least EUR 46,500 in order to be able to call a Model Y their own. For this you get the entry-level version with a WLTP range of 430 kilometers.
• If you want a WLTP range of 533 kilometers, you have to go for the Model Y maximum range with all-wheel drive for 56,990 euros.
• Traditionally, most newly registered cars are company cars. A tax rate of 0.25 percent of the list price then applies to electric cars, while company cars with petrol or diesel are taxed at one percent of the gross list price.

Sources: KBA, Tesla Motors