Why Are Prius Owners Abandoning Lexus And Jumping Straight To Tesla?

The Toyota Prius has been the perennial best seller for green-minded drivers, but the Tesla Model S is stealing buyers from the Japanese hybrid. Even though many Tesla buyers come from German luxury brands, the Model S is attracting most of its customers from Toyota.

As a new brand, Tesla has to pull from a pool of established buyers, and Toyota is one of the top-three best-selling car brands around the world every year. But the natural competitors from the Tesla Model S are built by brands like Mercedes and BMW, which make up 10.6% and 10.2% of Tesla sales, respectively. This has helped Tesla sales climb ahead of these old luxury marques in progressive places like California.

dlin - 3/24/2014 3:07:25 PM

+5 Boost

Another stupid question

w222 - 3/24/2014 3:17:23 PM

+3 Boost

Tesla isn't cheap (even with gov rebates). However if you can afford it, there is simply nothing better out there.

Agent001 - 3/24/2014 3:42:46 PM

+1 Boost

Simple answer. Sex SELLS.

001

Gambit - 3/24/2014 4:20:38 PM

+1 Boost

Tesla is sexy. Lexus is old mannish

TauronB2G - 3/24/2014 5:21:16 PM

+1 Boost

Superior product!
T

freeagent - 3/24/2014 11:23:15 PM

+5 Boost

because fashion is fickle. Tesla is a stronger green statement, and that's what this is about, not anything about the car. Lexus/Toyota is a big global conglomerate, whereas Tesla is something new and cool (to greenheads)

leej - 3/25/2014 11:26:57 AM

+5 Boost

Lexus has a plugin now?

SteveT - 3/25/2014 11:55:01 AM

+4 Boost

If you travel any distance your trip will be delayed by range anxiety. It's an expensive city car. And since when is California "progressive?" Depends on your definition of progress. If you think that being overtaxed, living in an 1000 sq ft house, freeways that are more like parking lots, and an invasive state government, then I guess California is "progressive."