Hyundai vs Tesla:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Tesla had more branded searches than Hyundai among car brands in the United States. Tesla had about 4.7 million branded searches, while Hyundai had 2.9 million. Tesla made up 7% of all car brand searches we track, and Hyundai accounted for 4.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about car brands, Hyundai appeared in three of the five answers and Tesla in one. Hyundai was mentioned before Tesla in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Tesla, about 59% more searches than Hyundai
Who does AI mention more?
Hyundai, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Tesla in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Hyundai, named ahead of Tesla in 3 of 3 answers
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Top car brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Hyundai was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Tesla was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Hyundai was listed before Tesla in every answer 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.
Toyota4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Honda4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Hyundai3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Subaru3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Ford2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Kia2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Mazda2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Lexus2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Tesla1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Chevrolet1 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?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most reliable car brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best family SUV to buy?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“car brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best suv”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.
Is Hyundai or Tesla more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Hyundai and Tesla by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 46 car brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Tesla, Hyundai. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Toyota | Tesla | Honda | Ford | Kia | Chevrolet | Hyundai | Nissan | Subaru | Mercedes-Benz | BMW | Jeep | Mazda | Porsche | Lexus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 10.1% | 6.4% | 6.3% | 6.6% | 4.5% | 5.6% | 4.8% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3% | 2.3% |
| Nov 2025 | 10.1% | 5.6% | 6.8% | 6.6% | 4.8% | 5.4% | 4.9% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3% | 2.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 10.1% | 5.5% | 6.4% | 6.4% | 4.7% | 5.4% | 4.8% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 3.4% | 4% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 3% | 2.8% |
| Jan 2026 | 10.5% | 5.7% | 7.2% | 6.3% | 4.6% | 5.3% | 4.7% | 3.5% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 2.9% | 2.7% |
| Feb 2026 | 10.8% | 5.7% | 6.8% | 6.5% | 5% | 5.2% | 4.4% | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.1% | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Mar 2026 | 10.3% | 5.6% | 7.1% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.4% | 4.9% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 2.8% | 2.5% |
| Apr 2026 | 10.5% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.2% | 5.1% | 5.3% | 4.6% | 3.7% | 3.1% | 3.2% | 3.5% | 3.3% | 3% | 2.9% | 2.5% |
| May 2026 | 10.6% | 6.7% | 6.7% | 6.2% | 5% | 5.2% | 4.2% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 2.9% | 2.7% |
| Jun 2026 | 10.7% | 6.4% | 7.1% | 6.2% | 5% | 5.4% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 3.4% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 11.1% | 6.1% | 7.1% | 6.1% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 4.7% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 3.2% | 3% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 10.5% | 6.7% | 7% | 6.3% | 5.3% | 5.2% | 4.9% | 3.6% | 3.2% | 2.9% | 3% | 3.2% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% |
| Sep 2026 | 11.2% | 7% | 6.8% | 6.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.5% |
How has the Hyundai and Tesla comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Tesla was ahead of Hyundai in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Hyundai’s share of searches among car brands in the United States moved from 4.8% to 4.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 3.3M to 2.9M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Tesla’s share of searches among car brands in the United States moved from 6.4% to 7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 4.3M to 4.7M.
How did search popularity change for United States car brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Tesla rose from 3rd to 2nd among car brands in the United States.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Hyundai in the United States fell 10.3% over 12 measured months, from 3.3M to 2.9M in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
14 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hyundai’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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