BMW vs Tesla:Which is more popular?
In October 2026, Tesla had more branded searches than BMW among car brands worldwide. Tesla had about 11.1 million branded searches, while BMW had 9.1 million. Tesla made up 6% of all car brand searches we track, and BMW accounted for 4.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car brands, Tesla appeared in three of the five answers and BMW in two. BMW was mentioned before Tesla in two out of three answers that named either.
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Top car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Tesla was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. BMW was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. BMW was listed before Tesla in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Honda5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Toyota5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Hyundai4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Mazda4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Tesla3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
BMW2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Porsche2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Kia2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Volkswagen1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Mercedes-Benz1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about car brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which car brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best car brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best car brand for an everyday car?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“car brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“reliable car brand”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Is BMW or Tesla more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for BMW and Tesla by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 85 car brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Tesla, BMW. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Honda | Tesla | BMW | Toyota | Volkswagen | Mercedes-Benz | BYD | Hyundai | Porsche | Audi | Ford | Jaguar | Kia | Lamborghini | Mazda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 5.8% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 5.8% | 4.8% | 5.3% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 6% | 4% | 4.9% | 5.9% | 4.9% | 5.5% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 6.6% | 3.6% | 5.3% | 6.5% | 4.4% | 4.9% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2% | 2.4% | 2% | 2% |
| Feb 2026 | 6.2% | 4.1% | 5% | 6.1% | 5% | 4.6% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Mar 2026 | 6.7% | 3.7% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 4.5% | 5% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 2.4% | 2% | 1.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 6.1% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 5.2% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.1% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| May 2026 | 6.2% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 5.2% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 1.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 6.3% | 4.2% | 5.1% | 6.2% | 4.2% | 4.7% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.9% |
| Jul 2026 | 6.3% | 4.2% | 5.1% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 4.7% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.9% |
| Aug 2026 | 6.1% | 4% | 4.9% | 5.9% | 4.9% | 4.5% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 5.9% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 5.8% | 4.8% | 4.4% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 2.2% | 1.8% |
| Oct 2026 | 6% | 6% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.5% | 4% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.8% |
How has branded search for BMW and Tesla changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending October 2026: Tesla took it in October 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, BMW’s share of searches among car brands worldwide moved from 4.8% to 4.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 9.1M.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Tesla’s share of searches among car brands worldwide moved from 3.9% to 6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 7.5M to 11.1M.
How did search popularity change for car brands worldwide in October 2026?
1 change
In October 2026, Tesla overtook Toyota and BMW to rank 2nd among car brands worldwide, with 6% of the searches.
How are BMW’s and Tesla’s branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BMW’s and Tesla’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among car brands
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