In 2023, the number of new light vehicle registrations in California reached 1,775,915, marking an increase of 11.9% compared to 2022. In the fourth quarter (Q4), registrations saw an almost 5% rise to 421,613.
According to the latest data and estimates from the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), plug-in electric car sales grew at a faster rate than the overall market, leading to a record market share for rechargeable cars.
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California’s plug-in car sales hit new record
In 2023, over 440,000 new plug-in electric cars were registered in California, accounting for almost 25% of the total volume. More than one-fifth of all new cars, over 380,000, were all-electric.
During the fourth quarter of 2023, approximately 105,095 new plug-in cars were registered in California, representing a 20% increase compared to the previous year and making up 24.9% of the total market.
Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations totaled 89,933, marking an 18% increase year-over-year and accounting for more than one-fifth of the market (21.3%). Plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) registrations saw a 37% year-over-year increase to 15,162, capturing a 3.6% share.
Non-rechargeable hybrids also experienced significant growth, with a 63% increase in Q4 amounting to 56,691 units and a 13.4% market share.
Refer to the latest data and graphs, provided by CNCDA (revised compared to previous quarters), for the quarter and year-to-date registration numbers below.
Plug-in electric car registrations in California (est.) in Q4’2023 (YOY change):
- BEVs: 89,933 (up 18%) and 21.3% share
- PHEVs: 15,162 (up 37%) and 3.6% share
- Total plug-ins: 105,095 (up 20%) and 24.9% share
- HEVs: 56,691 (up 63%) and 13.4% share
- Total xEVs: 161,786 (up 32%) and 38.4% share
The Q4 of 2023 showed a slight weakening in the plug-in market compared to Q2 and Q3, although it remained at near-record levels.
In the same year, more than 440,616 plug-in cars were registered in California, marking a 45% increase year-over-year and capturing 24.8% of the total market. Specifically, BEVs accounted for over 380,000 units sold and a 21.4% share, outpacing the average BEV share in the U.S. in 2023, which was 7.5%.
Also in Q4, stand-alone all-electric models that were among the most registered in their subcategories amounted to 12, with two Tesla cars—Model Y and Model 3—emerging as the best-selling overall models in California. Detailed data regarding the registration numbers and the top plug-in hybrid models are available below.
Notably, the top five new car models overall were led by Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3, with Tesla’s market share remaining high, despite a slight dip compared to the previous year’s sales. A breakdown of the registration numbers and market share is provided in the following sections.
The CNCDA data shows that Tesla experienced a 4.2% share of the U.S. market in the Q1-Q4’2023 period, selling an estimated 630,000 units out of a total of approximately 15,049,478 units. In California, the number of Teslas registered was around 230,589, with an additional 400,000 registered in other states across the U.S.