Tesla Model Y Continues To Defy Elon Animus In California

Tesla’s Model Y stayed California’s best-selling car in Q1 2026 and across 2025, despite continued backlash toward Elon Musk.

The result suggests buyers are still prioritizing price, range, reliability, and total ownership cost over politics.

California auto sales overall weakened, but Tesla’s crossover remained a standout in a major EV market.

The end of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit did not stop many shoppers from choosing the Model Y.