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.^[1] By contrast, Toyota has applied the Corolla nameplate to 12 generations since 1966, which have sold over 50 million through 2021.^[2]

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.^[1] 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.^[3] 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,^[4] when it was overtaken by the Toyota Corolla, due to the Corolla's good fuel mileage.^[5] 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.^[6] 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.^[7] 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.

Image	Automobile	Production	Units sold	Notes
	Ford Model T	1908–1927	16,500,000[8]	The first car to achieve one million, five million, ten million and fifteen million units sold. By 1914, it was estimated that nine out of every ten cars in the world were Fords.[8]
	Lada "Classic"	1970–2012[9]	17,750,000[10]	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[3]	The first car to achieve twenty million units sold.[1]
	Toyota Corolla	1966–present	50,000,000 by 2021[2]	The 50 million milestone was reached in 2021. However, the model type has been different over the years.[2]

National bestsellers

Sortable and collapsible table

Country	Image	Automobile	Years sold	Notes
Australia		Ford Falcon	1960–2016	Over 3,578,689.[11]
Argentina		Toyota HiLux	1960–present	Approximately 17,700,000, number reached in 2017.[12]
Bangladesh		Toyota Corolla	1966–present	[13][14]
Brazil		Volkswagen Gol[15]	1980–2023	7,000,000, number reached on December 12, 2022.[16]
China		Wuling Hongguang	2010–present	4,549,592 to December 2020.[17]
Czech Republic		Škoda Octavia	1996–present	Over 6,000,000 to 2016.[18]
France		Renault Clio	1990–present	12,300,000 to 2013.[19]
Germany		Volkswagen Golf[15]	1974–present	Over 25,000,000 to 2006.[20]
India		Maruti Suzuki Alto	2000–present	4,000,000 until 2020.[21]
Indonesia		Toyota Avanza	2003–present	2,021,838 units sold from 2004 to December 2023 in three generations.[22][23][24][25][26]
Italy		Fiat Uno	1983–1995 (in Italy)	Over 8,000,000.[27]
Japan		Toyota Corolla	1966–present	Over 50,000,000
Malaysia		Proton Saga	1985–present	1,900,000 since 1985.[28]
Poland		Polski Fiat 126p	1973–2000	3,318,674 in Poland.[29][30]
Romania		Dacia 1300	1969–2004	1,959,730 sold in Romania.[31][32]
Spain		SEAT Ibiza	1984–present	3,949,597 up to 2008.[33]
Sweden		Volvo 200 Series	1974–1993	2,862,573.[34]
Turkey		Renault Symbol	1999–2021	260,000 up to 2013.[35][36]
Ukraine		ZAZ Zaporozhets	1960–1994	3,422,444.[37]
United Kingdom		Mini	1959–2000	5,505,874.[38]
United States		Ford F-Series	1948–present	Over 40,000,000.[39]
Vietnam		Toyota Vios	2013–present	67,787 up to 2018.

Brand bestsellers

Brand	Image	Automobile	Production	Units sold	Notes
Alfa Romeo		Alfa Romeo Alfasud	1972–1989	1,017,387.[40]
Alpine		Alpine A110 (2017)	2017–present	18,985.[41][42]
American Motors		AMC Hornet	1970–1977	Approximately 860,000.[43][44]
Aston Martin		Unknown
Audi		Audi A4	1994–present	Over 7,500,000 to 2019[45]
Autobianchi		Autobianchi A112	1969–1986	1,254,178.[46]
Baojun		Baojun 510	2017–present	972,042 to 2021.[47]	Notable for being a highest-selling newly introduced automobile nameplate in world's history.[48]
BMW		BMW 3 Series	1975–present	Over 14,000,000 to 2015.
Buick		Buick LeSabre	1959–2005	Over 6,000,000.[49]
Bugatti		Bugatti Type 40	1926–1930	Approximately 800.[50]
BYD		BYD F3	2005–2022	1,684,904, excluding exports.[51]
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 1981–1988, 1991–93 and 2000–05 is unknown but a good guess is over 1,300,000.)[43][44]
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).[43][44]
Chevrolet		Chevrolet Impala	1958–2020	Over 13,000,000 to 1996.[52]
Chrysler		Chrysler Newport	1961–1981	Approximately 1,920,000 (excluding early Newport hardtops).[43][44]
Citroën		Citroën 2CV	1948–1990	3,872,583. Including commercial variants, the total figure is approximately nine million[53]
Continental		Continental Mark II	1956–1957	3,012 (only car produced by the short lived Continental division of the Ford Motor Company).[43]
Crosley		Crosley	1939–1942 1946–1949	62,210 before introduction of series names in 1950 (does not include 1949 Hot Shot).[43][54]
Dacia		Dacia Sandero	2008–present	over 2,700,000 (includes the Stepway version).
DeSoto		DeSoto Custom	1939–1942 1946–1952	Approximately 570,000.[43][54]
De Tomaso		De Tomaso Pantera	1970–1991	7,260 produced over a single generation[55]
Dodge		Dodge Coronet	1949–1959 1965–1976	Approximately 2,060,000 in six generations not counting 1949–53 4-doors, 1953 coupes, Dodge Chargers and Super Bees. (Production of 1949–53 4-doors and 1953 coupes is unknown but a reasonable guess is about 400,000 total.
Eagle		Eagle Talon	1990–1998	Approximately 200,000.[56]
Edsel		Edsel Ranger	1958–1960	50,803.[43]
Excalibur		Excalibur Series II	1970–1982	2,230.[57]
Facel		Facellia	1960–1964	1,500[58]
Ferrari		Unknown		Ferrari doesn't publish individual sales figures for most of their models.
Fiat		Fiat Uno	1983–present	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.[59]
Ford		Ford F-Series	1948–present	Over 40,000,000. America's bestselling vehicle for 40 consecutive years;[39] 33,900,000 in 12 generations to May 2010.[60]
Frazer		Frazer Standard	1947–1951	Approximately 90,000.[43]
Haval		Haval H6	2012–present	3,892,260 between 2012 2022, excluding exports.[61]
Henry J		Henry J Deluxe	1951–1954	43,400.[43]
Hindustan		Hindustan Ambassador	1958–2014	Almost 4,000,000.[62]
Holden		Holden Commodore	1978–2019	3,130,000 to 2013.[63]
Honda		Honda Civic	1972–present	Over 27,000,000 up to 2021.[64]
Hudson		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.)[43][54]
Hyundai		Hyundai Elantra	1990–present	14,400,000 up to 2022.[65]
Imperial		Imperial Crown	1957–1970	Approximately 127,000.[43]
Jaguar		Jaguar XJ	1968–2019	800,000 up to 2005.[66]
Jeep		Jeep Cherokee (XJ)	1984–2014	2,884,172 in North America until 2001; production continued in China until 2005.[67]
Kaiser		Kaiser Deluxe	1949–1953	Approximately 130,000.[43]
Koenigsegg		Koenigsegg Jesko	2021–present	125.[68]
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.[69]
Lamborghini		Lamborghini Urus	2018–present	over 20,000[70]
Lancia		Lancia Ypsilon	1996–present	over 870,000 to 2005.[71]
Land Rover		Series/Defender	1948–2016 2020–present	over 2,000,000 (approx)[72]
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.)[44][73]
Lotus		Lotus Elise	1996–2021	over 35,000 produced over two generations to 2021.[74]
McLaren		Unknown
Maserati		Unknown		Maserati doesn't publish individual sales figures for most of their models.
Mazda		Mazda Familia	1963–2003	Over 10,000,000 up to 1995.[75]
Mercedes-Benz		Mercedes-Benz C-Class	1993–present	6,900,000 to November 2006.[76]
Mercury		Mercury Cougar	1967–1997 1999–2002	2,972,784	Excludes Ford Cougar sold in Europe and Australia.
Messerschmitt		Messerschmitt KR200	1955–1964	30,286
Metropolitan		Metropolitan	1958–1961	55,215 as a separate marque under AMC.[77]
Mitsubishi		Mitsubishi Lancer	1973–2017	Over 6,000,000 to the end of 2006.[78]	Production continues in Taiwan and China
Nash		Nash Statesman	1950–1956	Approximately 340,000.[43]
Nissan		Nissan Sunny/Sentra/Pulsar/Almera	1966–present	Over 15,900,000.[69] Ten generations, and four nameplates depending on marketplace.
Oldsmobile		Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme	1961–1999	11,900,000 across several platforms and generations.[79]
Opel		Opel Corsa	1982–present	Over 18,000,000 sold worldwide in 25 years and in 4 generations up to 2007. 10 million of them were sold only in Europe.[80]	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.[81]
Packard		Packard Eight	1933–1936 1938 1942 1948–1950	Approximately 250,000.[43][54]
Peel		Peel Trident	1965–1966	82 in a single generation.[82]
Perodua		Perodua Myvi	2005–present	1,400,000 since 2005 up to 2023.[83]
Peugeot		Peugeot 206	1998–2013	Approximately 10,000,000 to 2018 in a single generation.[84]
Plymouth		Plymouth Fury	1959–1978	Approximately 3,680,000 (counting VIPs, but not counting 1959 and 1962 Sport Furys and 1975–77 Gran Furys).[43][44]
Pontiac		Pontiac Grand Am	1973–1975, 1978–1980, 1985–2005	Over 4,000,000.
Porsche		Porsche 911	1963–present	1,000,000 produced up to 2017.[85]
Proton		Proton Saga	1985–present	1,900,000 since 1985.
Rambler		Rambler Classic	1961–1966	Approximately 1,460,000 (including those produced in 1966 under AMC).[43][44]
Renault		Renault Clio	1990–present	12,300,000 across four generations up to 2013.[19]
Rolls-Royce		Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow	1965–1980	29,030 produced over a single generation.[86]
Saab		Saab 900	1978–1993	908,810.[87] in the first generation.
Saturn		Saturn S-Series	1991–2002	Approximately 2,210,000 not counting 2002 (sales of 2002 are unknown).[88]
SEAT		SEAT Ibiza	1984–present	3,949,597 up to 2008.[33]	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.
Simca		Simca 1100	1967–1982	2,139,400	Figures include a small number of complete knock down (CKD) kits and commercial versions.[89]
Smart		Smart Fortwo	1998–present	Over 1,700,000 by early-2015.[90][91]
Studebaker		Studebaker Champion	1939–1942 1946–1958	Approximately 1,320,000.[43][54]
Subaru		Subaru Legacy	1988–present	Over 3,600,000 to 2008.[92][93]
Škoda		Škoda Octavia	1996–present	Over 6,000,000 to 2016.[18]
Tatuus		Tatuus FR2000	2000–2007	Approximately 930 chassis.[94][95]
Toyota		Toyota Corolla	1966–present	50,000,000 up to 2021[2]
Tesla		Tesla Model Y	2020–present	2,160,000 up to December 2023[96]
Trabant		Trabant 601	1957–1991	Over 3,000,000.[97]
Volkswagen		Volkswagen Golf	1974–present	35,000,000 across seven generations by 2019.[98] Became Volkswagen's bestseller in 2002.[99]
Volvo		Volvo 200 Series	1974–1993	2,862,573 saloon, estate and coupe models over a spell of 19 years.[34]
Willys		Willys 77	1933–1936	Approximately 68,000.[100]
Zastava		Zastava 101	1971-2008	1,045,458
ZAZ		Zaporozhets	1960–1994	3,422,444.[37]

Class bestsellers

Class	Image	Automobile	Production	Units sold	Notes
All-electric car		Tesla Model Y	2020–present	2,160,000 up to December 2023[96]	Became the first electric vehicle to be the world's bestselling car in 2023.[101] Suspected to have passed the Model 3 in lifetime cumulative sales in early 2024.[102]
Full-size car		Chevrolet Impala	1958–1985 1994–1996 2000–2020	Over 13,000,000 between its introduction and 1996.[52]	The bestselling car in America in a single year, with 1,046,514 sold in 1965 including the Impala SS.[43]
Hybrid electric vehicle		Toyota Prius	1997–present	5,000,000 in four generations up to September 2022.[103] Combined sales of the Prius family nameplate totaled over 6,000,000 units in January 2017.[104]	The world's all-time best selling hybrid electric vehicle.[105]
Hydrogen fuel cell car		Toyota Mirai	2015–present	26,260 units sold by early 2024 in the United States, Japan, some European markets and the United Arab Emirates.[106]
Pickup truck		Ford F-Series	1948–present	Over 34,000,000 America's bestselling vehicle for 28 consecutive years;[60] 33,900,000 in 12 generations to May 2010.[60]	World's bestselling truck for 43 consecutive years.[107]
Plug-in hybrid		BYD Song DM SUV series	2017–present	Over 1,050,000 in December 2023 since inception.[108][109][110]	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	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.)[43][44]
Racing car		Porsche 911 GT3 Cup	1998–present	1,400 up to 2011[111][112]
Formula racing car		Tatuus FR2000	2000–2007	Approximately 930 chassis.[94][95]
Rotary engined car		Mazda RX-7	1978–2002	811,634 in three generations to 2005.[113]
Single-cylinder car		Iso/BMW/VELAM/Romi Isetta	1953–1961	161,728 in all variations[114]
Four-seat sports car (Pony car)		Ford Mustang	1964–present	10,000,000 in six generations up to 2018.[115]
Two-seat coupe Sports car		Nissan Z-cars	1969–1999 2003–present	1,535,000 in five generations up to 2005.[116]
Two-seat convertible sports car		Mazda MX-5	1989–present	Over 940,000 in the first two generations to June 2014.[117]	Verified by the Guinness Book of Records as the bestselling two-seater, convertible (open top) sports car in history.[117]
Van		Volkswagen Type 2 (Transporter)	1950–present	Over 12,000,000 in six generations to August 2015[118]	Best-selling van nameplate of all-time.[118] 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	2017–present	416,883 sold in its first 12 months in the market[48]	February 2017 – January 2018
		Ford Fairmont	1977–1983	Previous record holder, 405,780 sold in its first 12 months in the market[48]	1978
All-electric car		BYD Seagull	2023–present	364,986 sold in its first 12 months in the market[119][120]	April 2023 – March 2024
		Wuling Hongguang Mini EV	2020–present	Previous record holder, 328,929 sold in its first 12 months in the market[121][122]	August 2020 – July 2021