List of best-selling automobiles
Best selling automobiles are those passenger cars and light trucks which, since the introduction of the Benz Patent Motorwagen in 1886, can lay claim to being the highest selling vehicles in the markets they compete in.
While references to verify the manufacturers' claims have been included, there is always the possibility of inaccuracy or hyperbole. A single vehicle can be sold concurrently under several nameplates in different markets, as with for example the Nissan Sunny; in such circumstances manufacturers often provide only cumulative units sold figures for all models. As a result, there is no definitive standard for measuring units sold;
Chrysler minivans has sold over 16 million worldwide. Volkswagen has claimed its Beetle as the best-selling car in history, as it did not substantially change throughout its production run. By contrast, Toyota has applied the Corolla nameplate to 13 generations since 1966, which have sold over 44 million through 2016.
World's bestsellers
Four cars have been widely acknowledged as the "bestselling automobile in the world" since Ford built its millionth Model T on December 10, 1915. The Model T itself remained the highest seller until forty five years after production ceased in 1927. On February 17, 1972 Volkswagen claimed that the Ford had been superseded by the Beetle, when the 15,007,034th was manufactured. Although The Model T has subsequently been credited with 16.5 million units sold, this anomaly is moot in light of the Beetle reaching 21 million.The Beetle remained the bestselling vehicle until the late 1990s, when it was itself overtaken by the Toyota Corolla. However, this was an example of the modern practice of applying a brand name across a range of vehicles, and retaining it for marketing purposes even as the car changes. While the first Corolla in 1966 was rear wheel drive and rode on a 2286 mm wheelbase, the current front wheel drive versions share a 2600 mm wheelbase and use a mechanically unrelated platform.
The original model Lada produced by AvtoVAZ of Russia, is the most numerous vehicle ever marketed without any major design change during its production history, with over 20 million units sold between 1970 and mid-2012. The Lada, sometimes known as the "Classic" in the West, was originally based on the 1960s Fiat 124 but mechanically upgraded to cope with poor roads and harsh climates. Between 1970 and 1979, some 5 million cars had been produced. These were badged as the VAZ-2101, VAZ-2102, VAZ-2103, VAZ-2106. Between 1980 and 2012 over 15 million more Ladas were produced, and these were badged for various export markets such as Rivas, Signets, and Novas. The car was also built under licence in several countries. Although various updates were made to the car's bumpers, steering columns and interior fittings, as well as other minor mechanical improvements throughout its production life, the basic, Fiat 124 derived design remained unchanged.
| Image | Automobile | Production | Units Sold | Years sold | Notes |
| Ford Model T | 1908–27 | 16,500,000 | 1908–27 | The first car to achieve one million, five million, ten million and fifteen million units sold. By 1914, it was estimated that nine out of every ten cars in the world were Fords. | |
| Lada "Classic" | 1970–2012 | 17,750,000 | 1970–2012 | The number does not include the platform's archetype Fiat 124 and its other license-built examples | |
| Volkswagen Beetle | 1938–2003 | 21,529,464 | 1938–2003 | The first car to achieve twenty million units sold. | |
| Toyota Corolla | 1966–present | 44,100,000 by 2016 | 1966–present | The 44 million milestone was reached in 2016. However, the model type has been different over the years. |