BMW vs Tesla:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, BMW and Tesla were level in searches among car brands in the United Kingdom, with an estimated 489K versus 508K branded searches, at 3.5% and 3.7% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car brands, Tesla appeared in two of the five answers and BMW in one. BMW and Tesla were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Tesla and BMW are searched for about as often as each other.
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.
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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 two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. BMW was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. BMW and Tesla were each listed first in one of the two 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.
Toyota3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Volkswagen2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Tesla2 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
Ford1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
BYD1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Porsche1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
BMW1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Peugeot1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Hyundai1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about car brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which car should I buy in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most reliable car brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best family car to buy in the UK?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“car brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“new cars”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 26, 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 55 car brands we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Tesla, BMW. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Toyota | Volkswagen | Ford | BYD | Porsche | Tesla | Kia | BMW | Peugeot | Hyundai | Mercedes-Benz | Land Rover | Nissan | Skoda | Cupra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 5.7% | 4.7% | 5.3% | 3% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 5.9% | 4.7% | 5.3% | 2.8% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 2.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 6.1% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 2.5% | 4.4% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.8% | 2% |
| Jan 2026 | 5.8% | 4.8% | 5% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 3.5% | 2.2% |
| Feb 2026 | 5.8% | 5% | 5.1% | 2.7% | 3.6% | 3% | 4% | 3.5% | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 2.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 5.8% | 4.9% | 4.9% | 3% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 5.4% | 4.7% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 4.1% | 4.5% | 4% | 3.4% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 3.1% | 3% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.4% |
| May 2026 | 5.6% | 4.8% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 4% | 3.5% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 3.1% | 3% | 2.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 5.6% | 4.4% | 4.8% | 3.4% | 4.1% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 3.2% | 2.8% | 2.3% |
| Jul 2026 | 5.9% | 5% | 4.7% | 3.3% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 2.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 5.9% | 4.7% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 4% | 3.6% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2.3% |
| Sep 2026 | 5.8% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 4% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 2.4% |
How has the BMW and Tesla comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 4 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: BMW took it in November 2025, Tesla took it in April 2026, BMW took it in July 2026, Tesla took it in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BMW’s share of searches among car brands in the United Kingdom held steady at 3.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 489K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Tesla’s share of searches among car brands in the United Kingdom moved from 3.5% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 492K to 508K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom car brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, BMW rose from 10th to 8th among car brands in the United Kingdom.
In September 2026, Tesla rose from 7th to 6th among car brands in the United Kingdom.
How are branded searches counted?
11 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.
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