Tesla outsold Toyota in California in the second quarter of 2023 by nearly 2,000 units, overtaking the automaker in terms of total registrations. The dominance was driven by the Model 3 and Model Y.
Tesla registered 69,212 cars throughout the second quarter of the year, while Toyota managed to obtain 67,482 registrations through the same timeframe.
The importance of Tesla overtaking a mass-producing automaker in its most popular U.S. market is massive. Tesla’s goal since the beginning of the company has been to make EVs affordable and take market share from gas competitors.
Toyota dominated market share during the same period in 2022, with 18.1 percent of the total car market in California. However, Tesla has managed to catch up with a 62.3 percent increase in sales in Q2 2023 compared to the same quarter last year.

Credit: CNCDA
The two companies are well above Honda, which captured the third-most registrations for the quarter at 9.7 percent. Tesla, at 14.6 percent, and Toyota, at 14.2 percent, were first and second.
Tesla has sold 123,482 cars to date, which is outshined by only Toyota. This was the first quarter that Tesla managed to outsell Toyota, and a strong first half has the Japanese company with nearly 10,000 more registrations than Tesla through the first six months.
Tesla also managed to capture several spots on the “Top Selling Models in Each Segment” list, as the Model 3 blew the competition away in the “Near Luxury” category. 41,718 registrations were enough for a 50.8 percent share of that category. The Lexus ES was second with 4,422 registrations at 5.4 percent.

Tesla Model 3 (Credit: Tesla)
The Model S was third in the “Luxury and High-End Sports Cars” category, trailing the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes EQS Sedan. The Model 3 captured 1,900 registrations in California in Q2, enough for 7.9 percent of the category, while the 5-Series had 15.7 percent and the EQS had 8.8 percent.
However, Tesla’s dominance was shown in the Top Selling Passenger Cars and Top Selling Light Trucks categories. The Model 3, with its 41,719 registrations, was ahead of the Toyota Camry with 27,169. The Model Y was interestingly labeled as a Light Truck, and 74,765 registrations dominated the 26,032 of the Toyota RAV4, which placed second in the category.
Tesla also appeared in the list of Top Selling Used Vehicles, as the Model 3 finished sixth with 9,359 registrations. This category was topped by the Honda Civic with 14,601.
Data Courtesy of California New Car Dealers Association
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Tesla cites competitive harm in attempt to keep certain crash data private
Tesla wants some data to be kept from the public because competitors could use it for their own benefit.

Tesla is citing competitive harm as it is attempting to keep certain crash data private from the public in relation to a lawsuit against it and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from the Washington Post.
In a federal court filing seen by Reuters, Tesla said it wanted some of the crash information the Post was attempting to obtain to be kept confidential because it could be used by rivals to assess the company’s self-driving tech.
Tesla touts its self-driving suite as one of the most robust on the market, and those who have used it believe it to be one of the best around. However, accidents do happen, and while Tesla still has not reached full autonomy and tells drivers to continue paying attention to be prepared to take over, the company still seems to take a lot of the blame for them.
There are also some things that could be revealed about Tesla’s self-driving strategy if it were to release the data, the company says. The efficacy of each version of its FSD suite could allow competitors to calculate how many crashes occurred on each release.
Attorneys for the Washington Post said that Tesla’s versions of both software and hardware are not kept private from owners themselves, so the information should be made public.
The NHTSA has been investigating accidents involving Tesla’s Full Self-Driving suite since it opened an investigation last October.
The company is used to dealing with attempts to hinder the progress or capabilities of the FSD suite. When used correctly, it can be a widely beneficial suite that helps make driving less stressful, but Tesla has always been more than vocal that it cannot be used as a replacement for human drivers, at least not yet.
Currently, Tesla Full Self-Driving still requires owners to pay attention and be aware of road conditions, as they may have to take over unexpectedly.
Tesla is hoping to launch its Robotaxi platform in Austin next week on Thursday, as it has reportedly landed on June 12 as its launch date.
However, media skepticism regarding the suite’s capabilities has conveniently started to ramp up as the Robotaxi platform launch nears.
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SpaceX marks 500th Falcon launch with Starlink 11-22 Mission
The Starlink 11-22 mission marks SpaceX’s 500th Falcon flight & 50th Starlink launch of 2025. Will SpaceX IPO Starlink next?

SpaceX celebrated its 500th Falcon rocket launch with the Starlink 11-22 mission, a midweek flight from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The milestone was achieved with a Falcon 9 liftoff on Wednesday at 4:40 p.m. PDT (7:40 p.m. EDT, 2340 UTC). It also coincided with the 15th anniversary of the first Falcon 9 launch, underscoring the company’s dominance in the commercial space sector. The Starlink 11-22 mission, SpaceX’s 50th Starlink launch of 2025, highlights the company’s focus on expanding its satellite internet constellation.
Earlier this week, Elon Musk revealed SpaceX anticipates $15.5 billion in revenue this year, surpassing NASA’s $1.1 billion budget for 2026.
SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets have driven down launch costs, securing a significant share of the global launch market. In 2024, the company set a record with 134 Falcon launches, making it the world’s most active launch operator. SpaceX aims to surpass this with 170 launches by year-end, fueled by growing demand for satellite deployments. The Starlink constellation is a key revenue driver for SpaceX and remains central to these ambitions. Musk has hinted at a future public offering for Starlink without specifying a timeline.
Beyond Falcon rockets, SpaceX is advancing its 400-foot Starship system, which Musk envisions as critical for Mars missions. The company’s cost-effective launch services and satellite communications have outpaced traditional space agencies, leveraging commercial demand to fund its interplanetary goals. While NASA focuses on deep space exploration, SpaceX’s revenue model thrives on frequent, reliable launches and Starlink’s expanding reach.
“I would like to thank everyone out there who has bought Starlink because you’re helping secure the future of civilization, making life multi-planetary, and helping make humanity a space-exploring civilization,” Musk said during his Road to Making Life Multiplanetary discussion.
The 500th Falcon launch marks a pivotal moment for SpaceX, reflecting its transformative impact on space access. As the company pushes toward record-breaking launch targets and multi-planetary aspirations, Starlink’s growth continues to fuel its vision, positioning SpaceX as a leader in shaping the future of space exploration and connectivity.
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Tesla is missing one type of vehicle in its lineup and fans want it fast
Tesla is missing one vehicle from its lineup and its fans and owners are hoping the company builds it.

Tesla’s lineup of vehicles has expanded considerably over the last few years. At first, the company offered the Model S luxury sedan, then the Model X luxury SUV, which has the seats but not the space or the affordability that everyone is looking for.
The Model 3 and Model Y are sedan and crossover vehicles that have launched the company into the mass-market category. The Cybertruck brought out the company’s first-ever pickup design, and while it is unorthodox, it is certainly functional.
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But there is one thing Tesla is missing in its lineup, and it is a vehicle type that many have waited for and want. The company currently has not announced any plans to produce it, but its fans are loud and persistent, and we’ve even nudged Tesla to consider making it.
It’s a full-size SUV.
This particular segment is dominated by combustion engines currently: Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon topped sales with 105,756 and 82,304 units sold, respectively. The Ford Expedition is just behind with 62,007 units sold last year. There are a few formidable competitors on the EV side of things, with the Rivian R1S, the GMC Hummer SUV EV, and even the Kia EV9.
However, Tesla has yet to dip its toe into this market, and it seems many of its fans are willing to admit that the company is missing a true “people mover” with enough space to handle a cross-country road trip with a handful of kids.
A legitimate, comfortably sized 3-row family SUV.
Not an undersized egg-shaped one with a 3rd row that can only fit contortionists, and design-limiting gimmicks like falcon wing doors that just add cost/complexity for a customer set that doesn’t want them.— Weather Nole (@WxGuesserNole) June 4, 2025
No question… we need a full size SUV built on the cybertruck’s platform.
— HARLAN Z. HILL 🇺🇸 (@Harlan) June 4, 2025
This, they should build this.
Cybertruck AWD drivetrain, but this as rough form. pic.twitter.com/SH4DvkvoIe
— Timothyz (@Timothyz) June 4, 2025
Why Not the Model X?
The Model X is likely Tesla’s lowest-selling vehicle. It contributes very little to the overall mission of the company, and even CEO Elon Musk once said that it, along with the Model S, is only produced due to “sentimental reasons.”
When it comes to the X, it’s simply not quite what people are looking for in terms of a “full-size SUV.” Instead, it is more of a van/crossover SUV hybrid. It does not have tons of cargo and interior space.
It does have a lot of great tech, a flashy look, and adequate range for that trip with the kids. It’s a great car, and one that Tesla is planning to refine with an upcoming refresh, its second this decade.
However, it falls short of what would qualify as a full-size SUV, especially considering its third row is a little tight, even for younger children.
But it’s not quite what many would consider as what Tesla needs to fill this void in its lineup.
What Could Be Coming?
Many fans say they would like to see a CyberSUV — something built on the Cybertruck platform but in the form of a full-size SUV. This is not totally out of the question, especially considering Tesla has already made it clear the Cybercab would adopt the same sort of aesthetic as the Cybertruck.
However, we can all agree it’s a far cry from what the Cybertruck truly is, and Tesla likely will not build something that’s even close to the pickup. It already admitted it would not adopt the stainless steel exoskeleton for future vehicles in the Q4 2024 Shareholder Deck.
So, if Tesla were to decide to build something that would be in the full-size SUV segment, it wouldn’t look like the Cybertruck.
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