Data Shows The Model Y Is Stubbornly Popular

But this sentiment hasn’t knocked the Model Y out of its No.1 spot in California. The Tesla SUV stayed the state’s best-selling* car, despite an overall car market decline of 8.9 percent in the first quarter of 2026, the California New Car Dealers Association said. And an April U.S. EV market report from Cox Automotive supports the Model Y’s popularity: “One out of every three EVs sold in Q1 was a Tesla Model Y,” Cox said. Many of those Model Ys were sold in California.

So, What’s Happening?

Bear in mind that the Model Y’s popularity persists even after the Trump Administration, in September of 2025, canceled the $7,500 EV tax credit. At that time, there was no shortage of doom and gloom in the media about the fate of Tesla and EVs. Not to mention polls that show Musk has low favorability among Democrats and liberals, who typically have favorable views of electric vehicles.

So, what’s going on? Purchasing decisions are rational, not political. The protests and Tesla vandalism are concentrated among a subset of the population, while the much larger pool of buyers is weighing price, reliability, range, resale value, and total cost of ownership. For many Californians, especially in commuter-heavy markets, the math favors the Model Y. I would go so far as to say (this is just an opinion) that even a small fraction of buyers who disagree with Musk’s politics may still choose the Model Y if they believe it’s the best vehicle for their needs. It’s called pragmatism. And there’s nothing more pragmatic than buying a car. Besides, there’s always a spot on the bumper for an anti-Elon sticker if buyer’s remorse sets in.