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Best selling automobiles are those passenger cars and light trucks which, since the introduction of the Benz Patent Motorwagen in 1886, can lay claim to being the highest selling vehicles in the markets they compete in.

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. Volkswagen has claimed its Beetle as 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]

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 On February 17, 1972 Volkswagen claimed that the Ford had been superseded by the Beetle, when the 15,007,034th was manufactured.^[1] Although The Model T has subsequently been credited with 16.5 million units sold, this anomaly is moot in light of the Beetle reaching 21 million.^[3] The Model T would eventually be 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 until the late 1990s,^[4] when it was itself overtaken by the Toyota Corolla.^[5] However, this was an example of the modern practice of applying a brand name across a range of vehicles, and retaining it for marketing purposes even as the car changes.^[6] While the first Corolla in 1966 was rear wheel drive and rode on a 2286 mm wheelbase, the current front wheel drive versions share a 2600 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 badged 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.

Brand Image Automobile Production Units Sold Notes Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo Alfasud 1972–1989 1,017,387.^[33] Alpine

Alpine A310 1971–1984 11,616.^[34] American Motors

AMC Hornet 1970–77 Approximately 860,000.^{[35] [36]} Aston Martin

Aston Martin DB7 1993–2003 7,000 ^{[37] [38]} Autobianchi

Autobianchi A112 1969–1986 1,254,178.^[39] BMW

BMW 3 Series 1975–present Over 14,000,000 to 2015. Buick

Buick LeSabre 1959–2005 Over 6,000,000.^[40] Bugatti

Bugatti Type 40 1926–30 Approximately 800.^[41] 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.)^{[35] [36]} Checker

Checker Marathon 1961–82 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).^{[35] [36]} Chevrolet

Chevrolet Impala 1958–2020 Over 13,000,000 to 1996.^[42] Chrysler

Chrysler Newport 1961–81 Approximately 1,920,000 (excluding early Newport hardtops).^{[35] [36]} Citroën

Citroën 2CV 1948–90 3,872,583. Including commercial variants, the total figure is approximately nine million^[43] Continental

Continental Mark II 1956–57 3,012 (only car produced by the short lived Continental division of the Ford Motor Company).^[35] Crosley

Crosley 1939–42
1946–49 62,210 before introduction of series names in 1950 (does not include 1949 Hot Shot).^{[35] [44]} Dacia

Dacia 1300 1969–2004 1,959,730 (including all generations).^[45] DeSoto

DeSoto Custom 1939–42
1946–52 Approximately 570,000.^{[35] [44]} De Tomaso

De Tomaso Pantera 1970–1991 7,260 produced over a single generation ^[46] Dodge

Dodge Coronet 1949–59
1965–76 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 1990–98 Approximately 200,000.^[47] Edsel

Edsel Ranger 1958–60 50,803.^[35] Excalibur

Excalibur Series II 1970–82 2,230.^[48] Facel

Facellia 1960–1964 1,500 ^[49] Ferrari

Ferrari 360 1999–2004 Over 17,000 coupés and convertibles.^[50] 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.^[51] Ford

Ford F-Series 1948–present Over 34,000,000 America's bestselling vehicle for 28 consecutive years;^[31] 33,900,000 in 12 generations to May 2010.^[31] Frazer Frazer Standard 1947–51 Approximately 90,000.^[35] Henry J

Henry J Deluxe 1951 43,400.^[35] Hindustan

Hindustan Ambassador 1958–2014 Almost 4,000,000.^[52] Holden

Holden Commodore 1978–2019 3,130,000 to 2013.^[53] Honda

Honda Civic 1972–present Over 16,500,000 to May 2006.^[54] Hudson

Hudson Super 1916–26
1940–42
1946–50 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.)^{[35] [44]} Imperial

Imperial Crown 1957–70 Approximately 127,000.^[35] Jaguar

Jaguar XJ 1968–present 800,000 up to 2005.^[55] Jeep

Jeep Cherokee (XJ) 1984–present 2,884,172 in North America until 2001; production continued in China until 2005.^[56] Kaiser

Kaiser Deluxe 1949–53 Approximately 130,000.^[35] Koenigsegg

Koenigsegg CCX 2006–10 29.^{[57] [58]} Lada/AvtoVAZ Lada Riva
VAZ-2105/04/07 1980–present 13,500,000 until exports to Europe were discontinued in 1997. Production continues in Egypt.^[59] Lagonda 11, 11.9, 12 and 12/24 1913–26 over 6,000 ^[60] Land Rover Series/Defender 1948–2015 over 2,000,000 (approx) ^[61] Lamborghini

Lamborghini Gallardo 2004–2013 14,022 coupés and convertibles to November 2013.^[62] Lancia

Lancia Ypsilon 1996–present over 870,000 to 2005.^[63] 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.)^{[36] [64]} Lotus

Lotus Elise 1996–present over 20,000 produced over two generations to December 2004.^[65] McLaren

McLaren 12C 2011–2014 1000th sold by June 2012 in a single generation.^[66] Maserati

Maserati Biturbo 1981–1994 Over 38,000 ^[67] Mazda

Mazda Familia 1963–2003 Over 10,000,000 up to 1995.^[68] Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz C-Class 1993–present 6,900,000 to November 2006.^[69] 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 1958–61 55,215 as a separate marque under AMC.^[70] Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Lancer 1973–present Over 6,000,000 to the end of 2006.^[71] Nash

Nash Statesman 1950–56 Approximately 340,000.^[35] Nissan

Nissan Sunny/Sentra/Pulsar/Almera 1966–present Over 15,900,000.^[59] Ten generations, and four nameplates depending on marketplace. Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 1961–99 11,900,000 across several platforms and generations.^[72] Opel

Opel Corsa 1982–present Over 18,000,000 sold worldwide in 25 years and in 4 generations. 10 million of them were sold only in Europe.^[73] Packard

Packard Eight 1933–36
1938
1942
1948–50 Approximately 250,000.^{[35] [44]} Peel

Peel Trident 1965–66 82 in a single generation.^[74] Perodua Perodua Myvi 2005–present 77,657 at 2010. (or about 1,500,000 since 2005.)^[20] Peugeot

Peugeot 206 1998–present Approximately 10,000,000 to 2018 in a single generation.^[75] Plymouth

Plymouth Fury 1959–78 Approximately 3,680,000 (counting VIPs, but not counting 1959 and 1962 Sport Furys and 1975–77 Gran Furys).^{[35] [36]} Pontiac

Pontiac Grand Am 1973–75, 1978–80, 1985–2005 Over 4,000,000. Porsche

Porsche 911 1963–present 1,000,000 produced up to 2017.^[76] Rambler

Rambler Classic 1961–66 Approximately 1,460,000 (including those produced in 1966 under AMC).^{[35] [36]} Renault

Renault Clio 1990–present 12,300,000 across four generations up to 2013.^[15] Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 1965–80 29,030 produced over a single generation.^[77] Saab

Saab 900 1978–93 908,810.^[78] in the first generation. Saturn

Saturn S-Series 1991–2002 Approximately 2,210,000 not counting 2002 (sales of 2002 are unknown).^[79] SEAT

SEAT Ibiza 1984–present 3,949,597 up to 2008.^[25] 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.^[80] Smart

Smart Fortwo 1998– Over 1,500,000 by mid-2013.^[81] Studebaker

Studebaker Champion 1939–42
1946–58 Approximately 1,320,000.^{[35] [44]} Subaru

Subaru Legacy 1988–present Over 3,000,000 to 2005.^[82] Škoda

Škoda Octavia 1996–present Over 6,000,000 to 2016.^[14] Tatuus

Tatuus FR2000 2000–2007 Approximately 930 chassis.^{[83] [84]} Toyota

Toyota Corolla 1966–present 50,000,000 up to 2021^[2] Tesla

Tesla Model 3 2017–present 1,000,000 by June 2021^[85] Trabant

Trabant 1957–91 Over 3,000,000.^[86] Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf 1974–present 30,000,000 across seven generations by June 2013.^[87] Became Volkswagen's bestseller in 2002. Volvo

Volvo 200 Series 1974–93 2,862,573 saloon, estate and coupe models over a spell of 19 years.^[26] Willys

Willys 77 1933–36 Approximately 68,000.^[88] Zastava

Zastava 101 1971-2008 1,045,458 ZAZ

Zaporozhets 1960–94 3,422,444.^[29]

Class Image Automobile Production Units Sold Notes All-electric car

Tesla Model 3 2017–present Over 1,000,000 by June 2021 since inception.^[85] Since January 2020 is the world's all-time best selling battery electric car, and also the top selling passenger car of the more general category of plug-in electric cars.^[89] It surpassed the Nissan Leaf (450,000 units up until December 2019).^[90] Full-size car

Chevrolet Impala 1958–1985
1994–1996
2000–present Over 13,000,000 between its introduction and 1996.^[42] The bestselling car in America in a single year, with 1,046,514 sold in 1965 including the Impala SS.^[35] Hybrid electric vehicle

Toyota Prius 1997–present Almost 4,000,000 in four generations up to January 2017.^[91]
Combined sales of the Prius family nameplate totaled over 6,000,000 units in January 2017.^[91] The world's all-time best selling hybrid electric vehicle.^[92] Hydrogen fuel cell car

Toyota Mirai 2015–present 2,840 units by mid-February 2017 in Japan, the United States, some European markets and the United Arab Emirates.^[93] Pickup truck

Ford F-Series 1948–present Over 34,000,000 America's bestselling vehicle for 28 consecutive years;^[31] 33,900,000 in 12 generations to May 2010.^[31] World's bestselling truck for 43 consecutive years.^[94] Plug-in hybrid

Mitsubishi Outlander P-HEV 2013–present 290,000 in September 2021 since inception.^[95] The world's all-time best-selling plug-in hybrid car.^[96] It surpassed the Chevrolet Volt in December 2018.^[96] 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.)^{[35] [36]} Racing car

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 1998– 1,400 up to 2011^{[97] [98]} Formula racing car

Tatuus FR2000 2000–2007 Approximately 930 chassis.^{[83] [84]} Rotary engined car

Mazda RX-7 1978–2002 811,634 in three generations to 2005.^[99] Single-cylinder car

Iso/BMW/VELAM/Romi Isetta 1953–61 161,728 in all variations^[100] Four-seat sports car
(Pony car)

Ford Mustang 1964–present 10,000,000 in six generations up to 2018.^[101] Two-seat coupe Sports car

Nissan Z-cars 1969–99
2003–present 1,535,000 in five generations up to 2005.^[102] Two-seat convertible sports car

Mazda MX-5 1989–present Over 940,000 in the first two generations to June 2014.^[103] Verified by the Guinness Book of Records as the bestselling two-seater, convertible (open top) sports car in history.^[103] Van

Volkswagen Type 2 (Transporter) 1950–present Over 12,000,000 in six generations to August 2015^[104] Best-selling van nameplate of all-time.^[104]
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).

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_automobiles

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