Brandwave

BMW vs Tesla:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, BMW and Tesla were level in searches among electric car brands worldwide, with an estimated 9.1M branded searches each, at 17.7% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about electric car brands, Tesla appeared in all five answers and BMW in two. Tesla was mentioned before BMW in every answer.

Among electric car brands worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

BMW and Tesla are searched for about as often as each other.

BMW 9.1M searchesTesla 9.1M searches

Who does AI mention more?

Tesla, mentioned in every answer we collected

Tesla in 5 of 5BMW in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Tesla, named ahead of BMW in every answer

Tesla first in 5BMW never first

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Top electric car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Tesla appeared in all five answers. BMW was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Tesla was listed before BMW in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Tesla1st
  2. Kia2nd
  3. Hyundai3rd
  4. Rivian4th
  5. BMW5th
  6. Polestar6th
  7. Nissan7th
  8. Lucid Motors8th
  9. Volkswagen–
  10. BYD–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Tesla5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Kia5 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
  • Rivian3 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
  • Nissan1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Polestar1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Lucid Motors1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Volkswagen0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • BYD0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about electric car brands

5 answers

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 ten electric car brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

BMW and Tesla among electric car brands worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for BMW, Tesla. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBMWTeslaVolkswagenBYDHyundaiKiaNissanPolestarRivianLucid Motors
Oct 202520.5%16.9%16.9%11.3%13.8%9.3%7.6%1.5%1.5%0.58%
Nov 202518.8%15.4%18.8%12.6%15.4%8.4%6.9%1.7%1.7%0.52%
Dec 202519.8%16.2%19.8%10.8%13.3%8.9%7.3%1.5%1.8%0.67%
Jan 202620.6%13.9%16.9%13.9%13.9%9.3%7.6%1.9%1.5%0.73%
Feb 202618.8%15.4%18.8%12.6%12.6%10.3%6.9%2.1%2.1%0.64%
Mar 202620.6%13.9%17%13.9%13.9%9.3%7.6%1.5%1.9%0.58%
Apr 202617.7%17.7%17.7%14.5%11.8%9.7%6.5%1.9%1.9%0.6%
May 202618.3%15%18.3%15%12.2%10%6.7%2%2%0.62%
Jun 202619.8%16.2%16.2%13.3%13.3%8.9%7.3%2.2%2.2%0.6%
Jul 202619.1%15.7%19.1%12.8%12.8%8.6%7%2.1%2.1%0.63%
Aug 202618.9%15.4%18.9%12.6%12.6%10.3%6.9%1.7%2.1%0.6%
Sep 202617.7%17.7%17.7%14.5%11.9%9.7%6.5%1.9%1.9%0.49%

How has the BMW and Tesla comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • BMW was ahead of Tesla in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BMW’s share of searches among electric car brands worldwide moved from 20.5% to 17.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 11.1M to 9.1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Tesla’s share of searches among electric car brands worldwide moved from 16.9% to 17.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 9.1M.

How did search popularity change for electric car brands worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Tesla overtook Volkswagen to rank 2nd among electric car brands worldwide, with 17.7% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, BMW lost share of searches among electric car brands worldwide, from 18.9% to 17.7%.

How are 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.

BMW

1 branded search term

  • bmw

Tesla

1 branded search term

  • tesla

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among electric car brands

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