Tesla’s “Brand Damage”? Look Again—It’s Still Eating Everyone’s Lunch

You’ve probably heard the noise, right? Tesla’s brand is “damaged.” Elon tweets too much. The Cybertruck looks like a toddler’s drawing on steroids. People are over Tesla.

Yeah… about that.

Let’s look at the cold, hard numbers—because while critics were busy tweeting hot takes from their Chevy Bolts, Tesla was quietly leading global EV sales. Again.

Wait, Who’s Winning the Race?

Between January and April 2025, Tesla’s Model Y sold 292,162 units. Model 3? Another 177,458. That’s half a million high-voltage status symbols—before we’ve even hit summer.

Let that sink in.

Model Y and Model 3 weren’t just in the top ten. They were first and second. By a long shot. The nearest competition? BYD’s tiny Seagull/Dolphin Mini, pulling in a respectable 137,505 units… which is adorable, honestly. Like showing up to a gunfight with a nerf bat.

And get this: those Tesla numbers came despite a production switch-over that slowed down early-year output. That’s like sprinting with one shoe untied and still blowing past the competition.

Legacy Automakers: Missing in Action

Here’s the real kicker—Ford, GM, Volkswagen? Nowhere to be found in the top 10. Not even a whisper of Detroit steel on that leaderboard.

You’d think with all the “Tesla’s lost its edge” talk, legacy automakers would’ve at least showed up. But nope. Nada.

Remember back in 2020 when Morgan Stanley said investors were leaning toward EV startups over the old guard? They weren’t kidding. Fast forward to 2025 and Tesla’s BEVs are 60% of its entire sales volume. Ford and friends? Barely scratching 5%.

This isn’t just a lead. It’s a generational divide. A vibe gap, if you will. Tesla isn’t just selling cars—they’re selling “future.” Everyone else is still fumbling with charging networks and waiting for committee approvals.

BYD: The One to Watch (Kinda)

Now, BYD’s Seagull/Dolphin thing? It is doing numbers—especially in emerging markets like Brazil and Colombia. Smart move. Build it cheap, localize production, and don’t bother with fancy driver-assist systems. Just give people a solid EV that works.

Their 38.88 kWh battery won’t win races, but that’s not the point. BYD isn’t trying to make Teslanaire fanboys switch teams. They’re playing a totally different game—volume over flash.

It’s like comparing an iPhone to a burner phone from a vending machine. Different audiences, different goals. But when it comes to influence and staying power? You know which one people want in their pocket.

So… Brand Damage?

Let’s cut the nonsense.

If this is what brand damage looks like—two cars dominating global sales, crushing startups and dinosaurs alike, and keeping shareholders locked in? Then Tesla should damage its brand more often.

Sure, Elon’s antics rub people the wrong way. Sure, the Cybertruck is still splitting the internet in half. But the real world doesn’t care.

People are still buying Teslas. In record numbers. While everyone else is still trying to figure out how to not lose money on an EV.

Turns out, being the most American-made car with the best charging network and a decade of vertical integration under your belt still counts for something.

Funny how that works.