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Gas-powered vehicles are dead. It may not seem like it now, but the future of the automotive industry is clearly electric. Legendary automakers like Ford are starting to electrify vehicle lineups. Most major automakers have pledged to completely cease production of vehicles that burn fossil fuels within the next two decades. Electric vehicle sales are already seeing a major increase thanks to Tesla and the efforts of other manufacturers.

Tesla sales: How many total Teslas have been sold in 2021?

Tesla experience store in Shanghai, China | Costfoto/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Tesla has had its best first and second quarter sales ever in 2021. It has sold more units in the first and second quarter of 2021 than in the entire 2019 sales year. Tesla has sold over 386,000 units thus far and is on track to sell well over 500,00 units by the end of the fourth quarter.

Tesla may not have stellar sales compared to other popular automakers, but its EV sales are unparalleled in the clean energy department. Tesla successfully scaled its brand and business while other automakers’ electric vehicles struggled to establish themselves as practical options compared to their gas-powered counterparts.

To put Tesla’s 2021 success into perspective, the automaker is on track to sell more electric vehicles this year than 2016, 2017, and 2018 combined. Tesla sales have increased annually as the automaker rolled out new models and features, but its 2021 sales progression is unparalleled. It owes much of its success to its two current most popular models.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk stands next to a blue Tesla Model Y SUV.
The Tesla Model Y | Frederic J. Brown via Getty Images

The current most popular Tesla Model is the Tesla Model Y. The Model Y is Tesla’s crossover SUV option. The Model Y is smaller and much more affordable than the Tesla Model X SUV. It isn’t the most luxurious Tesla. It doesn’t boast the best performance. The Tesla Model Y is the brand’s current most popular model because it offers great range at the company’s most affordable price yet.

The Tesla Model Y starts at $39,990. The Standard Range trim can go 244 miles on a full charge. The Long Range model is estimated to go 326 miles on a single charge. It starts at $52,990. The Model Y introduces a practical, fun electric alternative to the popular crossover vehicle class, and consumers love it.

The Tesla Model 3 is the second most popular Tesla. It also starts at $39,990. The Model 3 base trim, the Standard Range Plus, offers a whopping 263 miles of range on a full charge. Its Long Range trim offers 353 miles of range for $48,990. Electric vehicles are also eligible for thousands of dollars of tax incentives, making them even more affordable.

Electric vehicle sales reach an all-time high

A red 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is driving on a highway with a brown rocky scene in the background.
2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E | The Ford Motor Company

According to Electrek, electric car sales have increased by as much as 95%. This is due to the introduction of new EV options from popular automakers as well as Tesla. The development of charging networks is also a huge factor in new EV purchases. More available chargers and Tesla Superchargers mean EV ownership has become much more feasible and practical than in prior years.

Tesla has been an active leader in the clean energy space. The automaker has made amazing strides, but it is far from the only company getting consumers hooked on EVs. The Chevrolet Bolt EV and Ford Mustang Mach-E are the next most popular EVs in America after the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Tesla may currently have the advantage over other automakers when it comes to electric vehicles, but the competition is about to get a lot stiffer very soon.

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