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."Twenty million built and still going strong", Bill Vance, Carguide By contrast, Toyota has applied the Corolla nameplate to 12 generations since 1966, which have sold over 50 million through 2021.
Global bestsellers +Best-selling car nameplates of all time Image Nameplate Production Units sold Notes Toyota Corolla 1966–present 50,000,000 Ford F-Series 1948–present 43,000,000 Volkswagen Golf 1974–present 37,000,000 Volkswagen Passat 1973–present 34,000,000 Honda Civic 1972–present 28,000,000 Toyota Camry 1982–present 22,000,000 Ford Fiesta 1976–2023 22,000,000 Volkswagen Beetle 1938–2003 21,500,000 Toyota Hilux 1968–present 21,000,000 Honda Accord 1976–present 19,500,000
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 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 21,529,464th, and Last, Beetle", The New York Times, July 31, 2003 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,"Top 5 Best-Selling Cars Ever" , Timeforkids.com, January 23, 1998 when it was overtaken by the more modern and efficient Toyota Corolla." Toyota Corolla", John Pearley Huffman, Edmunds.com, January 5, 2003 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."Toyota Corolla: The World's Favourite Car", Sean O'Grady, The Independent, September 25, 2006 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 nameplate, the Volkswagen Golf.
+Cars that historically held the record for best-selling car of all time Image Automobile Production Record period Units sold Notes Ford Model T 1908–1927 1915–1972 16,500,000"Ford Nameplates Join Five Million Club" , Mike O'Neill, Ford Motor Company press release, May 5, 2004 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. Volkswagen Beetle 1938–2003 1972–1997 21,529,464 The first car to achieve twenty million units sold. Toyota Corolla1966–present 1997–present 50,000,000 by 2021 The 50 million milestone was reached in 2021. However, the nameplate has been applied on twelve different generations of cars.
Brand bestsellers Current brands BrandImage Automobile ProductionUnits sold and notes Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo Alfasud 1972–1989 1,017,387. Alpine Alpine A110 (2017) 2017–present 18,985. Aston Martin Aston Martin DBX 2020–present 10,675 to end of 2023.AudiAudi A41994–2025Over 7,500,000 to 2019BaojunBaojun 5102017–2025972,042 to 2021. Notable for being a highest-selling newly introduced automobile nameplate in world's history. BMW BMW 3 Series 1975–present Over 18,000,000 to 2025. Buick Buick LeSabre 1959–2005 Over 6,000,000.Buick LeSabre, Edmunds.com, 2005 Bugatti Bugatti Type 40 1926–1930 Approximately 800.BYDBYD F32005–20221,684,904, excluding exports. Cadillac 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 Chevrolet Impala 1958–19851994–19962000–2020 Over 16,500,000"American Car Profile" , Marit Anne Peterson, SportsCarMarket.com, August 2006 Chrysler Chrysler Newport 1961–1981 Approximately 1,920,000 (excluding early Newport hardtops). Citroën Citroën 2CV 1948–1990 3,872,583. Including commercial variants, the total figure is approximately nine millionOverview of Citroën 2CV , Motorbase.com Dacia Dacia Sandero 2008–present over 2,700,000 (includes the Stepway version). De Tomaso De Tomaso Pantera 1970–1991 7,260 produced over a single generation Dodge Dodge Coronet 1949–19591965–1976Approximately 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 Unknown Ferrari doesn't publish official sales figures for many of their models. Fiat 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."Positive Results for Ford, Fiat", Barbara McClellan, Ward's AutoWorld, May 23, 2005 Ford 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.Auto Express Magazine, May 2010HavalHaval H62012–present3,892,260 between 2012 and 2022, excluding exports. Hindustan Hindustan Ambassador 1958–2014 Almost 4,000,000."Importer plans soft top Indian car", BBC News, August 5, 2004 Honda Honda Civic 1972–present Over 27,000,000 up to 2021.HyundaiHyundai Elantra1990–present14,400,000 up to 2022. Jaguar Jaguar XJ 1968–2019 800,000 up to 2005. Jeep Jeep Wrangler 1986–present Over 5,000,000 to 2023. Koenigsegg Koenigsegg Jesko 2021–present 125. Lada/AvtoVAZ Lada RivaVAZ-2105/04/07 1980–2014 13,500,000 until exports to Europe were discontinued in 1997. Production continued in Egypt until 2014."Sentra: One of the Best Selling Cars in Automotive History" , Nissan Philippines website press release Lamborghini Lamborghini Urus 2018–present over 20,000 Lancia Lancia Ypsilon 1996–present over 870,000 to 2005. Land Rover Series/Defender 1948–2016 over 2,000,000 (approx) Lincoln 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.)Town Car sales figures (1994–2005), Forbes, July 17, 2006 Lotus Lotus Elise 1996–2021 over 35,000 produced over two generations to 2021. Maserati Maserati GranTurismo 2007–present 40,250 up to 2019 Mazda Mazda Familia 1963–2003 Over 10,000,000 up to 1995."MAZDA:1990–1999 | History", Mazda.com Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz C-Class 1993–present 10,500,000 to February 2021. Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Lancer 1973–2017 Over 6,000,000 to the end of 2006."All new 2008 Lancer" , AllnewLancer.ca Production continues in Taiwan and China Nissan Nissan Sunny/Sentra/Pulsar/Almera 1966–present Over 15,900,000. Ten generations, and four nameplates depending on marketplace. Opel/Vauxhall Opel Corsa 1982–present Over 18,000,000 sold worldwide in 25 years, in the four generations up to 2007. 10 million were sold only in Europe alone.Opel Corsa celebrates 25th birthday (September 28, 2007) 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 Myvi2005–present 1,400,000 since 2005 up to 2023. Peugeot 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 Saga1985–present 1,900,000 since 1985. Renault Renault Clio 1990–present 17,000,000 across five generations up to 2025. Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 1965–1980 29,030 produced over a single generation.The Rolls-Royce Motor Car. Anthony Bird and Ian Hallows. Batsford Books. 2002 SEAT SEAT Ibiza 1984–present 3,949,597 up to 2008."SEAT Ibiza, a 25 year success story" , SEAT.com, May 7, 2009 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 Smart Fortwo 1998–2024 Over 1,700,000 by early 2015. Subaru Subaru Legacy 1988–2025 Over 3,600,000 to 2008."Legacy production reaches three million" , Subaru press release, March 15, 2005 Škoda Škoda Octavia 1996–present Over 6,000,000 to 2016. Toyota Toyota Corolla 1966–present 50,000,000 up to 2021TeslaTesla Model Y 2020–present 2,160,000 up to December 2023 Volkswagen Volkswagen Golf 1974–present 37,000,000 across seven generations by 2023. Became Volkswagen's bestseller in 2002. Volvo Volvo 200 Series 1974–1993 2,862,573 saloon, estate and coupé models over a spell of 19 years.Volvo Car Production Statistics , Volvo Owners' Club ZAZ Zaporozhets 1960–1994 3,422,444."ZAZ" , Motorbase.com
Defunct brands Brand Image Automobile Production Units sold & notes American Motors AMC Hornet 1970–1977 Approximately 860,000.Flammang, James Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976–1999 3rd Edition (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, Inc 1999) Autobianchi Autobianchi A112 1969–1986 1,254,178. (accessed via the Wayback Machine)Checker 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 1956–1957 3,012 (only car produced by the short lived Continental division of the Ford Motor Company). Crosley Crosley 1939–19421946–1949 62,210 before introduction of series names in 1950 (does not include 1949 Hot Shot). DeSoto DeSoto Custom 1939–19421946–1952 Approximately 570,000. Eagle Eagle Talon 1990–1998 Approximately 200,000. Edsel Edsel Ranger 1958–1960 50,803. Excalibur Excalibur Series II 1970–1982 2,230. Facel Facellia 1960–1964 1,500 Frazer Frazer Standard 1947–1951 Approximately 90,000. FSO FSO 125p 1967–1991 1,445,699Zbigniew Boniecki: ...Jest u nas fabryka w Warszawie. Opowieść o FSO (1948) 1951-1996. Warszawa: Daewoo-FSO Motor sp. z o.o, 1999, s. 156. ISBN 83-909310-0-1. Henry J Henry J Deluxe 1951–1954 43,400. Holden Holden Commodore 1978–2019 3,130,000 to 2013."GM Holden Launches Production of New Commodore Range" , Alan Harman, Ward's AutoWorld, July 19, 2006 Hudson Hudson Super Six 1916–192819331940–19421946–1951 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 Imperial Crown 1957–1970 Approximately 127,000. Kaiser Kaiser Deluxe 1949–1953 Approximately 130,000. MercuryMercury Cougar 1967–1997