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The automobile industry has undergone a remarkable evolution since the invention of the first motor vehicle in the late 19th century. Cars have become an indispensable part of modern life, transforming transportation and shaping the way we interact with the world around us. Throughout history, certain cars have stood out for their exceptional design, performance, and popularity, earning them the coveted title of “best-selling cars of all time.”
From the early pioneers of the industry to the contemporary marvels of engineering, we’ll explore the groundbreaking features and unique qualities that have contributed to the enduring success of these automobiles. Delving into the pages of automotive lore, we’ll uncover fascinating stories behind each best-seller, examining the factors that propelled them to unprecedented heights in sales and popularity.
BMW 3 Series
Units Sold: 16 Million
The 3 Series is BMW’s all-time best-selling model accounting for over 30 percent of their total overall sales. It’s a compact executive car that was initially produced in 1975 as a replacement for the 02 Series and was originally only sold as a two-door sedan.
However, over the course of seven generations of the 3 Series, BMW has diversified the compact car into a four-door sedan, two-door convertible, two-door coupé, and five-door wagon. The 3 Series has been in the market for 48 years and across those years its sold over 16 million units worldwide.
Ford Model T
Units Sold: 16.5 Million
The Ford Model T entered the scene back in 1908 at a time when cars were considered a luxury for the rich and wealthy. With the Model T, Ford had a single goal: to make an automobile that the average middle-class American could afford. They successfully achieved this by implementing a more efficient production process notably creating an assembly line instead of individually handcrafting each car one by one.
Upon its release, the Model T became a huge success selling over 15 million units, which at the time was a world record. The Model T is widely regarded as the first-ever mass-produced vehicle. It also won the Car of the Century competition in 1999 where it was named “the most influential car of the 20th century”
Ford Fiesta
Units Sold: 16.5 million
Positioned below the Escort, the Ford Fiesta is a supermini hatchback that first came out in 1976. The model was designed by a team within Ford called “Bobcat” headed by Trevor Erskin, and it competed with models like the Fiat 127 and Renault 5.
After a decade of being in production, Ford almost killed the Fiesta because of its high production costs, but the 1973 oil crisis and subsequent rise in fuel prices changed their minds, as demand for small cars was at its peak. The Fiesta featured nimble handling, a punchy engine, and an affordable price tag. Over the course of seven generations and 41 years, Ford has managed to sell 22 million Fiestas.
Lada ‘Soviet Era’
Units Sold: 17 Million
The Lada was the result of scientific and technical cooperation between Fiat and the Soviet Ministry to create a cheap budget vehicle, specifically cheaper than Western vehicles. The original Lada, manufactured by AvtoVAZ, was built as a tougher, more rugged version of the Fiat 124 sedan, featuring strengthened components and thicker steel panels. This was done to help the car cope with rough terrain and harsh Russian winters. During its production life in the Soviet era, the Lada sold over 17 million units.
Volkswagen Beetle
Units Sold: 21 Million
The Beetle looks like a harmless little bug, but it’s got quite a past. The first Beetle came out in 1938, and its concept and basic functions were formulated by the leader of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler. His main aim for the vehicle was to create a people’s car that was simple, cheap, and mass-produced.
The first Beetle, officially known as the Type 1, was a two-door, five-passenger rear-engined car that came equipped with a flat-four engine. It was discontinued in 2003, and in its 61 years of production, Volkswagen sold over 21 million units globally.
Honda Accord
Units Sold: 17 Million
The Accord, positioned above the Civic, has been in production since 1976. Over the years, Honda has used the Accord name for all sorts of vehicles including hatchbacks, coupes, and station wagons. But the most recognizable version of the Accord is the four-door sedan.
The Accord holds the distinction of being the first vehicle manufactured by an import brand to become the best-selling car in the United States, back in 1989. Since then, it has held its position as one of the best-selling cars, selling a total of 17 million units worldwide.
Honda Civic
Units Sold: 30 Million
The Civic is Honda’s most widely recognized model and it’s been in production for more than 50 years, even pre-dating the golf. It initially debuted in 1972, and back then it was recognized as a compact car. However, since the year 2000, it’s switched categories a bit and has gone into the subcompact class. It’s a front-wheel drive front-engined car that’s positioned below the Accord.
It’s hard to imagine, but there once was a time when Honda made the decision to close up shop and solely focus on making motorcycles. The Civic was going to be their last four wheels vehicle and after that, they were gonna wrap it all up. But the success of the Civic revived their interest in cars and made them reconsider, effectively redirecting automotive history forever.
The Civic takes a similar approach to the market as the Corolla, by designing a four-door affordable, reliable, and economical car for everyday use. But Honda has given the Civic a slightly different flavor by incorporating sportier handling, similar to the Golf. But despite its success over the years the Civic still hasn’t quite been able to match its competitor in the sales department. Since its debut Honda has sold over 30 million units worldwide.
Volkswagen Golf
Units Sold: 35 Million
The Volkswagen Golf is a front-engined front-wheel drive hatchback that made its debut in 1974. The Golf was designed to replace the highly successful Volkswagen Beetle. For Volkswagen, the Beetle was a huge sales success, and designing a car that could replace it was no small feat.
What they came up with was a front-wheel drive front-engined small hatchback that came equipped with a fuel-injected 1.6-liter engine that could take the car up to a top speed of 110 mph. Despite not having a large, powerful engine, the Golf featured nimble and lively handling that made it quite a hit. Since then, Volkswagen has sold over 35 million units over the span of eight generations, successfully achieving its goal of replacing one sales success with another.
Ford F-Series
Units Sold: 41 Million
The F-Series lineup was first introduced in 1948 with the Bonus-Built pickup that was sold in eight different configurations, such as a panel truck, a cab-over-engine (COE), and a conventional truck. Since then, the Ford has sold a whopping 41 million units, making it the most-sold pickup truck in the United States and the second-most-sold vehicle overall, only being beaten out by the Toyota Corolla.
Since its original debut, the F-Series has gone through fourteen generations over the span of 75 years. The line-up today consists of the F-150 to F-450, which are regular pickup trucks; the F-450 and F-550 chassis cabs; and the F-600, F-650, and F-750, which are Class –eight commercial trucks. Among these, the F150 is the most popular option. Because of this wide and diverse lineup, the F-Series trucks can be seen throughout the United States, serving as police vehicles, school buses, and regular pickups.
Toyota Corolla
Units Sold: 50 Million
The Toyota Corolla has maintained its position as the highest-selling nameplate globally for several years in a row. The model made its initial debut in 1966 as a compact car equipped with a 1.1-liter engine and since then over the span of 12 generations, Toyota has sold a grand total of over 50 million Corolla internationally effectively making it the highest-selling vehicle in the world.
But why? Why does the Corolla sell so much more than a lot of other more exciting models? It’s not the prettiest car out there, nor is it the fastest. It usually features a pretty basic design and a range of eco-friendly engines. The reason for its success stems from how most people look at cars. The reality of the situation is that, contrary to popular belief, most people don’t want a fast and exciting car.
What they want is an affordable, reliable, and economical car that gets them from point “A” to point “B.” And the truth of the matter is that the Corolla does these things remarkably well, and it’s done them for several decades, resulting in a well-deserved reputation for being the best everyday car a person can buy.
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