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Tesla Model X cited as “most significant vehicle”, by growth contribution to record 2016 PEV sales
Electric and plug-in hybrid car sales established new sales records in 2016 with the Tesla Model X earning the title of “most significant vehicle” according to EV Volumes. The industry tracking site cites the Model X for its contribution to the growth of plug-in car sales in the US this past year.
EV Volumes defines any car with a plug as a plug-in, which may cause some Tesla fans heartburn. The site does acknowledge that plug-in hybrids are probably a stop-gap solution until there are more pure electric cars with at least 200 miles of range available to American consumers.
“The volume increase in 2016 can be attributed to Tesla (+95 % for S & X combined), the new GM Volt (+61 %), Ford Fusion (+63 %) and a number of newcomers, mostly in the Plug-in Hybrid category.” indicates the published report. “By its growth contribution, the Tesla Model X must be regarded the most significant vehicle this year.”
The Tesla Model S was the overall sales leader for the year with 28,821 units sold to US customers, a 22% increase over 2015. The Model X finished the year with 17,629 US sales, good enough for 3rd place overall. The second generation Chevy Volt claimed 2nd place with 24,739 cars delivered to customers in the US, a 61% increase.
US plug-in car sales since January, 2011. Source: ZEV Facts by Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
California claimed nearly 50% of all plug-in sales with the other 9 states that adhere to the California zero emissions standards accounting for another 13%. Combined, all ten states accounted for nearly 62% of all US plug-in sales. In the conventional car market, those states make up about 28% of the US new car market.
Other cars with plugs that sold more than 10,000 units in the US in 2016 include the Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid, which saw its sales grow 63% last year to almost equal the Tesla Model X in total sales. The Fusion Energi now accounts for about 10% of all Fusion sales, despite the fact that Ford CEO Mark Fields insists that nobody wants to buy electric cars.
Sales of the Fusion Energi took off midyear after Ford began to advertise it as the longest range plug-in hybrid available. That claim is technically accurate — the Fusion Energi can travel more than 600 miles on a tank of fuel. But it is misleading in that the car only has 22 miles of range on battery power alone, which is only fair to middling for a plug-in hybrid these days.
To give the Fusion Hybrid more range, Ford simply increased the size of the gas tank. All of which suggests that the buying public is still woefully uninformed about cars with plugs, just as Elon Musk always claims when he talks about what a poor job car companies and automobile dealers do marketing electric cars.
The last car to sell more than 10,000 units last year is the venerable Nissan LEAF. Although Nissan promises an all new second generation LEAF with 200 miles or more of range sometime before the end of 2019, the current car is hopelessly out of date. It is essentially the same as it was when it first went on sale at the end of 2010. Still, the LEAF soldiered on to sell just over 14,000 cars in the US last year.
2016 Plug-in car sales in the US. Source: EV Volumes
In all, more than 156,000 cars with plugs were sold in the US in 2016. EV Volumes predicts that number will climb to 250,000 or more in 2017, assuming at least 50,000 Tesla Model 3 sedans are included. Whether the Model 3 makes it to market in significant numbers is one of the biggest stories industry watchers will be following this year.
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Elon Musk’s Grokipedia surges to 5.6M articles, almost 79% of English Wikipedia
The explosive growth marks a major milestone for the AI-powered online encyclopedia, which was launched by Elon Musk’s xAI just months ago.
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia has grown to an impressive 5,615,201 articles as of today, closing in on 79% of the English Wikipedia’s current total of 7,119,376 articles.
The explosive growth marks a major milestone for the AI-powered online encyclopedia, which was launched by Elon Musk’s xAI just months ago. Needless to say, it would only be a matter of time before Grokipedia exceeds English Wikipedia in sheer volume.
Grokipedia’s rapid growth
xAI’s vision for Grokipedia emphasizes neutrality, while Grok’s reasoning capabilities allow for fast drafting and fact-checking. When Elon Musk announced the initiative in late September 2025, he noted that Grokipedia would be an improvement to Wikipedia because it would be designed to avoid bias.
At the time, Musk noted that Grokipedia “is a necessary step towards the xAI goal of understanding the Universe.”
Grokipedia was launched in late October, and while xAI was careful to list it only as Version 0.1 at the time, the online encyclopedia immediately earned praise. Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger highlighted the project’s innovative approach, noting how it leverages AI to fill knowledge gaps and enable rapid updates. Netizens also observed how Grokipedia tends to present articles in a more objective manner compared to Wikipedia, which is edited by humans.
Elon Musk’s ambitious plans
With 5,615,201 total articles, Grokipedia has now grown to almost 79% of English Wikipedia’s article base. This is incredibly quick, though Grokipedia remains text-only for now. xAI, for its part, has now updated the online encyclopedia’s iteration to v0.2.
Elon Musk has shared bold ideas for Grokipedia, including sending a record of the entire knowledge base to space as part of xAI’s mission to preserve and expand human understanding. At some point, Musk stated that Grokipedia will be renamed to Encyclopedia Galactica, and it will be sent to the cosmos.
“When Grokipedia is good enough (long way to go), we will change the name to Encyclopedia Galactica. It will be an open source distillation of all knowledge, including audio, images and video. Join xAI to help build the sci-fi version of the Library of Alexandria!” Musk wrote, adding in a later post that “Copies will be etched in stone and sent to the Moon, Mars and beyond. This time, it will not be lost.”
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Tesla Model 3 becomes Netherlands’ best-selling used EV in 2025
More than one in ten second-hand electric cars sold in the country last year was a Tesla Model 3.
The Tesla Model 3 became the most popular used electric car in the Netherlands in 2025, cementing its dominance well beyond the country’s new-car market.
After years at the top of Dutch EV sales charts, the Model 3 now leads the country’s second-hand EV market by a wide margin, as record used-car purchases pushed electric vehicles further into the mainstream.
Model 3 takes a commanding lead
The Netherlands recorded more than 2.1 million used car sales last year, the highest level on record. Of those, roughly 4.8%, or about 102,000 vehicles, were electric. Within that growing segment, the Tesla Model 3 stood far ahead of its competitors.
In 2025 alone, 11,338 used Model 3s changed hands, giving the car an 11.1% share of the country’s entire used EV market. That means more than one in ten second-hand electric cars sold in the country last year was a Tesla Model 3, Auto Week Netherlands reported. The scale of its lead is striking: the gap between the Model 3 and the second-place finisher, the Volkswagen ID3, is more than 6,700 vehicles.
Rivals trail as residual values shape rankings
The Volkswagen ID.3 ranked a distant second, with 4,595 used units sold and a 4.5% market share. Close behind was the Audi e-tron, which placed third with 4,236 registrations. As noted by Auto Week Netherlands, relatively low residual values likely boosted the e-tron’s appeal in the used market, despite its higher original price.
Other strong performers included the Kia Niro, the Tesla Model Y, and the Hyundai Kona, highlighting continued demand for compact and midsize electric vehicles with proven range and reliability. No other model, however, came close to matching the Model 3’s scale or market presence.
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Tesla Model Y Standard Long Range RWD launches in Europe
The update was announced by Tesla Europe & Middle East in a post on its official social media account on X.
Tesla has expanded the Model Y lineup in Europe with the introduction of the Standard Long Range RWD variant, which offers an impressive 657 km of WLTP range.
The update was announced by Tesla Europe & Middle East in a post on its official social media account on X.
Model Y Standard Long Range RWD Details
Tesla Europe & Middle East highlighted some of the Model Y Standard Long Range RWD’s most notable specs, from its 657 km of WLTP range to its 2,118 liters of cargo volume. More importantly, Tesla also noted that the newly released variant only consumes 12.7 kWh per 100 km, making it the most efficient Model Y to date.
The Model Y Standard provides a lower entry point for consumers who wish to enter the Tesla ecosystem at the lowest possible price. While the Model 3 Standard is still more affordable, some consumers might prefer the Model Y Standard due to its larger size and crossover form factor. The fact that the Model Y Standard is equipped with Tesla’s AI4 computer also makes it ready for FSD’s eventual rollout to the region.
Top Gear’s Model Y Standard review
Top Gear‘s recent review of the Tesla Model Y Standard highlighted some of the vehicle’s most notable features, such as its impressive real-world range, stellar infotainment system, and spacious interior. As per the publication, the Model Y Standard still retains a lot of what makes Tesla’s vehicles well-rounded, even if it’s been equipped with a simplified interior.
Top Gear compared the Model Y Standard to its rivals in the same segment. “The introduction of the Standard trim brings the Model Y in line with the entry price of most of its closest competition. In fact, it’s actually cheaper than a Peugeot e-3008 and costs £5k less than an entry-level Audi Q4 e-tron. It also makes the Ford Mustang Mach-E look a little short with its higher entry price and worse range,” the publication wrote.
Elon Musk’s Grokipedia surges to 5.6M articles, almost 79% of English Wikipedia
Tesla Model 3 becomes Netherlands’ best-selling used EV in 2025
