# List of best-selling automobiles

Since the introduction of the Benz Patent Motorwagen in 1886, some passenger cars and light trucks can claim to being the highest selling vehicles in the automobile markets.
While references to verify the manufacturers' claims have been included, there is always the possibility of inaccuracy or hyperbole. 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; Chrysler minivans has sold over 16 million worldwide, while Volkswagen has claimed its Beetle is the best-selling car in history, as it did not substantially change throughout its production run. By contrast, Toyota has applied the Corolla nameplate to 12 generations since 1966, which have sold over 50 million through 2021.

## World's bestsellers

Four 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 surpassed by the Beetle, when the 15,007,034th was manufactured. Although the Model T has subsequently been credited with 16.5 million units sold, the error is inconsequential in light of the Beetle reaching 21 million. The Model T was eventually surpassed within Ford by the Ford F-Series, a pickup truck that is directly descended from the Model T roadster pickup.
The Beetle remained the bestselling vehicle in the car industry until the late 1990s, when it was overtaken by the Toyota Corolla, due to the Corolla's good fuel mileage. However, this was an example of the modern practice of applying a brand name across a wide range of vehicles, and retaining it for marketing purposes even as the car changes drastically. While the first Corolla in 1966 was rear-wheel drive and rode on a 2286 mm wheelbase, the current hybrid and all-wheel drive models share a 2640 mm wheelbase and use a mechanically unrelated platform. Sales of the Beetle were also surpassed by its successor, the Volkswagen Golf.
The original model Lada produced by AvtoVAZ of Russia, is the most numerous vehicle ever marketed without any major design change during its production history, with over 20 million units sold between 1970 and mid-2012. The Lada, sometimes known as the "Classic" in the West, was originally based on the 1960s Fiat 124 but mechanically upgraded to cope with poor roads and harsh climates. Between 1970 and 1979, some 5 million cars had been produced. These were marketed as the VAZ-2101 (1200 sedan), VAZ-2102 (1200 estate), VAZ-2103 (quad headlights, higher-spec. interior than 1200), VAZ-2106 (improved 2103). Between 1980 and 2012 over 15 million more Ladas were produced, and these were badged for various export markets such as Rivas (UK), Signets (Canada), and Novas (Germany). The car was also built under licence in several countries (production figures unknown). Although various updates were made to the car's bumpers, steering columns, and interior fittings, as well as other minor mechanical improvements throughout its production life, the basic Fiat 124 derived design remained unchanged.
Overview of globally best-selling automobiles :
| Image | Automobile | Production | Units sold | Notes |
| 1927 Ford Model-T. | Ford Model T | 1908–1927 | 16,500,000 | The first car to achieve one million, five million, ten million and fifteen million units sold. In 1914, it was estimated that nine out of every ten cars in the world were Fords. |
| | Lada "Classic" | 1970–2012 | 17,750,000 | The number does not include the platform's archetype Fiat 124 and its other license-built examples (e.g. SEAT 124, SEAT 1430). |
| | Volkswagen Beetle | 1938–2003 | 21,529,464 | The first car to achieve twenty million units sold. |
| 2019 Toyota Corolla. | Toyota Corolla | 1966–present | 50,000,000 by 2021 | The 50 million milestone was reached in 2021. However, the model types have changed over the years. |

## National bestsellers

Best sellers by country :
| Country | Image | Automobile | Years sold | Notes |
| Australia | | Ford Falcon | 1960–2016 | Over 3,578,689. |
| Argentina | | Toyota HiLux | 1960–present | Approximately 17,700,000, number reached in 2017. |
| Bangladesh | Twelfth generation Toyota Corolla. | Toyota Corolla | 1966–present | |
| Brazil | 2007 Volkswagen Gol Plus. | Volkswagen Gol | 1980–2023 | 7,000,000, number reached on December 12, 2022. |
| China | | Wuling Hongguang | 2010–present | 4,549,592 to December 2020. |
| Czech Republic | Škoda Octavia 3rd generation after pre-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 | Maruti Suzuki Alto | Maruti Suzuki Alto | 2000–present | 5,000,000 until 2024. |
| Indonesia | Toyota Avanza | Toyota Avanza | 2003–present | 2,021,838 units sold from 2004 to December 2023 in three generations. |
| Italy | First generation Fiat Uno. | Fiat Uno | 1983–1995 (in Italy) | Over 8,000,000. |
| Japan | Twelfth generation Toyota Corolla. | Toyota Corolla | 1966–present | Over 50,000,000 |
| Malaysia | | Proton Saga | 1985–present | 1,900,000 since 1985. |
| Netherlands | | DAF 44 | 1966–1974 | 167,902 |
| Poland | | Polski Fiat 126p | 1973–2000 | 3,318,674 in Poland. |
| Romania | | Dacia 1300 | 1969–2004 | 1,959,730 sold in Romania. |
| Spain | | SEAT Ibiza | 1984–present | 3,949,597 up to 2008. |
| Sweden | Volvo 240 station wagonn. | Volvo 200 Series | 1974–1993 | 2,862,573. |
| Turkey | Second generation Renault Symbol. | Renault Symbol | 1999–2021 | 260,000 up to 2013. |
| United Kingdom | 1993 Mini Cooper. | Mini | 1959–2000 | 5,505,874. |
| United States | 2021 F-150 Double Cab | Ford F-Series | 1948–present | Over 40,000,000. |
| Vietnam | 2017 Toyota Vios 1.5L. | Toyota Vios | 2013–present | 67,787 up to 2018. |

## Brand bestsellers
### Current brands

| Brand | Image | Automobile | Production | Units sold and notes |
| Alfa Romeo | 1979 Alfasud ti | Alfa Romeo Alfasud | 1972–1989 | 1,017,387. |
| Alpine | Alpine-Renault A310 | Alpine A110 (2017) | 2017–present | 18,985. |
| Aston Martin | Aston Martin DBX. | Aston Martin DBX | 2020–present | 10,675 to end of 2023. |
| Audi | | Audi A4 | 1994–2024 | Over 7,500,000 to 2019 |
| Baojun | Baojun 510 | Baojun 510 | 2017–present | 972,042 to 2021. Notable for being a highest-selling newly introduced automobile nameplate in world's history. |
| BMW | | BMW 3 Series | 1975–present | Over 14,000,000 to 2015. |
| Buick | 1964 Buick LeSabre. | Buick LeSabre | 1959–2005 | Over 6,000,000. |
| Bugatti | 1929 Bugatti Typ 40 Grand Sport Tourer. | Bugatti Type 40 | 1926–1930 | Approximately 800. |
| BYD | | BYD F3 | 2005–2022 | 1,684,904, excluding exports. |
| 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 those periods is unknown, but a good guess is over 1,300,000.) |
| Chevrolet | 1965 Chevrolet Impala. | Chevrolet Impala | 1958–1985 1994–1996 2000–2020 | Over 13,000,000 to 1996. |
| Chrysler | 1961 Chrysler Newport. | Chrysler Newport | 1961–1981 | Approximately 1,920,000 (excluding early Newport hardtops). |
| Citroën | First generation Citroën 2CV. | Citroën 2CV | 1948–1990 | 3,872,583. Including commercial variants, the total figure is approximately nine million |
| Dacia | Dacia Sandero. | Dacia Sandero | 2008–present | over 2,700,000 (includes the Stepway version). |
| De Tomaso | De Tomaso Pantera. | De Tomaso Pantera | 1970–1991 | 7,260 produced over a single generation |
| Dodge | Dodge Coronet. | Dodge Coronet | 1949–1959 1965–1976 | Approximately 2,060,000 in six generations not counting 1949–53 four-doors, 1953 coupés, Dodge Chargers and Super Bees. (Production of 1949–53 four-doors and 1953 coupés is unknown but a reasonable guess is about 400,000 total.) |
| Ferrari | Ferrari 360 Modena. | Ferrari 360 | 1999–2004 | Over 17,000 coupés and convertibles. |
| Fiat | First generation Fiat Uno. | Fiat Uno | 1983–2021 | 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 40,000,000. America's bestselling vehicle for 40 consecutive years; 33,900,000 in 12 generations to May 2010. |
| Haval | | Haval H6 | 2012–present | 3,892,260 between 2012 and 2022, excluding exports. |
| Henry J | 1951 Henry J. | Henry J Deluxe | 1951–1954 | 43,400. |
| Hindustan | Hindustan Ambassador. | Hindustan Ambassador | 1958–2014 | Almost 4,000,000. |
| Holden | Holden Commodore (VE). | Holden Commodore | 1978–2019 | 3,130,000 to 2013. |
| Honda | First generation Honda Civic. | Honda Civic | 1972–present | Over 27,000,000 up to 2021. |
| Hyundai | Hyundai Elantra | Hyundai Elantra | 1990–present | 14,400,000 up to 2022. |
| Jaguar | 1972 Jaguar XJ12. | Jaguar XJ | 1968–2019 | 800,000 up to 2005. |
| Jeep | 2000 Jeep Cherokee. | Jeep Cherokee (XJ) | 1984–2014 | 2,884,172 in North America until 2001; production continued in China until 2005. |
| Koenigsegg | Koenigsegg Jesko | Koenigsegg Jesko | 2021–present | 125. |
| Lada/AvtoVAZ | | Lada Riva VAZ-2105/04/07 | 1980–2014 | 13,500,000 until exports to Europe were discontinued in 1997. Production continues in Egypt. |
| Lamborghini | 2019 Lamborghini Urus | Lamborghini Urus | 2018–present | over 20,000 |
| Lancia | 2012 Lancia Ypsilon | Lancia Ypsilon | 1996–present | over 870,000 to 2005. |
| Land Rover | | Series/Defender | 1948–2016 2020–present | over 2,000,000 (approx) |
| 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 | 1996–2021 | over 35,000 produced over two generations to 2021. |
| 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. |
| Mitsubishi | Ninth-generation Mitsubishi Lancer. | Mitsubishi Lancer | 1973–2017 | Over 6,000,000 to the end of 2006. Production continues in Taiwan and China |
| Nissan | 1972 Datsun 1200. | Nissan Sunny/Sentra/Pulsar/Almera | 1966–present | Over 15,900,000. Ten generations, and four nameplates depending on marketplace. |
| Opel/Vauxhall | 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 four generations up to 2007. 10 million of them were sold only in Europe. The best-selling car in the world in 1998, surpassing the Toyota Corolla with 910,839 sales, at that time being produced in four continents, and was sold under five marques with five different body styles. |
| Perodua | | Perodua Myvi | 2005–present | 1,400,000 since 2005 up to 2023. |
| Peugeot | Peugeot 206. | Peugeot 206 | 1998–2013 | Approximately 10,000,000 to 2018 in a single generation. |
| Porsche | | Porsche 911 | 1963–present | 1,000,000 produced up to 2017. |
| Proton | Proton Saga | Proton Saga | 1985–present | 1,900,000 since 1985. |
| Renault | Third generation Renault Clio. | Renault Clio | 1990–present | 12,300,000 across four generations up to 2013. |
| Rolls-Royce | Rolls Royce Silver Shadow | Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow | 1965–1980 | 29,030 produced over a single generation. |
| 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. |
| Smart | 2004 Smart Fortwo | Smart Fortwo | 1998–2024 | Over 1,700,000 by early 2015. |
| Subaru | Third generation Subaru Legacy. | Subaru Legacy | 1988–2025 | Over 3,600,000 to 2008. |
| Škoda | Škoda Octavia 1st generation after facelift | Škoda Octavia | 1996–present | Over 6,000,000 to 2016. |
| Tatuus | Tatuus FR2000 | Tatuus FR2000 | 2000–2007 | Approximately 930 chassis. |
| Toyota | A 1976 Toyota Corolla. | Toyota Corolla | 1966–present | 50,000,000 up to 2021 |
| Tesla | Tesla Model Y | Tesla Model Y | 2020–present | 2,160,000 up to December 2023 |
| Volkswagen | Mk.1 Volkswagen Golf. | Volkswagen Golf | 1974–present | 35,000,000 across seven generations by 2019. Became Volkswagen's bestseller in 2002. |
| Volvo | Volvo 240 sedan. | Volvo 200 Series | 1974–1993 | 2,862,573 saloon, estate and coupé models over a spell of 19 years. |
| ZAZ | Zaporozhets. | Zaporozhets | 1960–1994 | 3,422,444. |

### Defunct brands

| Brand | Image | Automobile | Production | Units sold & notes |
| American Motors | AMC Hornet. | AMC Hornet | 1970–1977 | Approximately 860,000. |
| Autobianchi | 1973 Autobianchi A112 E. | Autobianchi A112 | 1969–1986 | 1,254,178. |
| Checker | Checker Marathon. | Checker Marathon | 1961–1982 | 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). |
| Continental | Continental Mark II. | Continental Mark II | 1956–1957 | 3,012 (only car produced by the short lived Continental division of the Ford Motor Company). |
| Crosley | 1948 Crosley. | Crosley | 1939–1942 1946–1949 | 62,210 before introduction of series names in 1950 (does not include 1949 Hot Shot). |
| DeSoto | Dodge DeSoto Custom. | DeSoto Custom | 1939–1942 1946–1952 | Approximately 570,000. |
| Eagle | Eagle Talon. | Eagle Talon | 1990–1998 | Approximately 200,000. |
| Edsel | 1959 Edsel Ranger. | Edsel Ranger | 1958–1960 | 50,803. |
| Excalibur | Excalibur Series II. | Excalibur Series II | 1970–1982 | 2,230. |
| Facel | 1961 Facel Vega Facellia | Facellia | 1960–1964 | 1,500 |
| Frazer | | Frazer Standard | 1947–1951 | Approximately 90,000. |
| FSO | | FSO 125p | 1967–1991 | 1,445,699 |
| Hudson | Hudson Super. | Hudson Super Six | 1916–1928 1933 1940–1942 1946–1951 | 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 | 1957–1970 | Approximately 127,000. |
| Kaiser | Kaiser Deluxe | Kaiser Deluxe | 1949–1953 | Approximately 130,000. |
| Mercury | 1994-1997 Mercury Cougar XR7 | Mercury Cougar | 1967–1997 1999–2002 | 2,972,784, excludes Ford Cougar sold in Europe and Australia. |
| Messerschmitt | 1955 Messerschmitt KR200. | Messerschmitt KR200 | 1955–1964 | 30,286 |
| Metropolitan | 1959 Metropolitan | Metropolitan | 1958–1961 | 55,215 as a separate marque under AMC. |
| Nash | Nash Statesman. | Nash Statesman | 1950–1956 | Approximately 340,000. |
| Oldsmobile | Image:1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme convertible. | Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme | 1961–1999 | 11,900,000 across several platforms and generations. |
| Packard | Packard Eight. | Packard Eight | 1933–1936 1938 1942 1948–1950 | Approximately 250,000. |
| Peel | 1965 Peel Trident. | Peel Trident | 1965–1966 | 82 in a single generation. |
| Plymouth | | Plymouth Fury | 1959–1978 | 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 | 1973–1975, 1978–1980, 1985–2005 | Over 4,000,000. |
| Rambler | Rambler Classic. | Rambler Classic | 1961–1966 | Approximately 1,460,000 (including those produced in 1966 under AMC). |
| Saab | 1985 Saab 900CD. | Saab 900 | 1978–1993 | 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). |
| Simca | Simca 1100. | Simca 1100 | 1967–1982 | 2,139,400, figures include a small number of complete knock down (CKD) kits and commercial versions. |
| Studebaker | Studebaker Champion. | Studebaker Champion | 1939–1942 1946–1958 | Approximately 1,320,000. |
| Trabant | 1983 Trabant P601. | Trabant 601 | 1957–1991 | Over 3,000,000. |
| Willys | 1936 Willys 77. | Willys 77 | 1933–1936 | Approximately 68,000. |
| Zastava | Zastava 101. | Zastava 101 | 1971-2008 | 1,045,458 |

## Class bestsellers

| Class | Image | Automobile | Production | Units sold | Notes |
| All-electric car | Tesla Model 3. | Tesla Model Y | 2020–present | 2,160,000 up to December 2023 | Became the first electric vehicle to be the world's bestselling car in 2023. |
| Full-size car | 1958 Chevrolet Impala. | Chevrolet Impala | 1958–1985 1994–1996 2000–2020 | 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 | 2017 Toyota Prius | Toyota Prius | 1997–present | 5,000,000 in four generations up to September 2022. Combined sales of the Prius family nameplate totaled over 6,000,000 units in January 2017. | The world's all-time best selling hybrid electric vehicle. |
| Hydrogen fuel cell car | Toyota Mirai | Toyota Mirai | 2015–present | 26,260 units sold by early 2024 in the United States, Japan, some European markets and the United Arab Emirates. | |
| 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 43 consecutive years. |
| Plug-in hybrid | Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV. | BYD Song DM SUV series | 2017–present | Over 1,050,000 in December 2023 since inception. | The world's all-time best-selling plug-in hybrid car. It surpassed the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV in 2021. |
| 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 992 GT3 Cup of 2023 Porsche Supercup champion, Bastian Buus | Porsche 911 GT3 Cup | 1990–present | 5,000th on November 28, 2022. | Also accounting for the 911 Carrera Cup produced between 1990 through to 1997. PistonHeads claimed sales went back to the introduction of the GT3 in 1998. |
| Formula racing car | Tatuus FR2000 | Tatuus FR2000 | 2000–2007 | Approximately 930 chassis. | |
| 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 | 1953–1961 | 161,728 in all variations | |
| Four-seat sports car (Pony car) | First 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang | Ford Mustang | 1964–present | 10,000,000 in six generations up to 2018. | |
| Two-seat coupe Sports car | | Nissan Z-car | 1969–1999 2003–present | 1,535,000 in five generations up to 2005. | |
| Two-seat convertible sports 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). |

## Fastest-selling

| Class | Image | Automobile | Production | Units sold | Notes |
| Any car | Baojun 510 | Baojun 510 | 2017–present | 416,883 sold in its first 12 months in the market. | February 2017 – January 2018 |
| Any car | Baojun 510 | Ford Fairmont | 1977–1983 | Previous record holder, 405,780 sold in its first 12 months in the market. | 1978 |
| All-electric car | Baojun 510 | BYD Seagull | 2023–present | 364,986 sold in its first 12 months in the market. | April 2023 – March 2024 |
| All-electric car | Baojun 510 | Wuling Hongguang Mini EV | 2020–present | Previous record holder, 328,929 sold in its first 12 months in the market. | August 2020 – July 2021 |