I recently joined an online forum of relatively wealthy investors who discuss portfolios, spending, and travel.

One question that someone put a poll up around was “what is your current daily driver”? About 320 people answered – a decent sample size. I answered BMW, since I drive our BMWs more than my Jeep or my wife’s Audi.

I wasn’t surprised to see that brand high on the list, but very surprised to see how Tesla now dominates the luxury car market.

Percent Respondents: 27% Tesla, 13% Toyota, 8% BMW, 5% Mercedes-Benz, 5% Audi, 5% Volvo, 5% Rivian, 4% Porsche, 3% Lexus, 3% Ford, 2% Acura, 2% Land Rover, 1% Chevrolet, 1% Cadillac, 1% Genesis

I read that Tesla is popular among wealthy buyers because they are often tech-savvy executives, entrepreneurs, and early adopters. They view Tesla as a status symbol of the future (similar to an “iPhone on wheels”).

Features like over-the-air updates, advanced autopilot/full self-driving capabilities, superior acceleration/performance, and seamless integration of software/hardware appeal strongly to those who prioritize innovation over traditional luxury.

I would consider getting an EV like Tesla’s Model Y, but I don’t think my wife is very interested. It would work well at our Florida place, but since we split the driving down here, we need something we both feel comfortable with. (Right now we have a BMW X5 that is just over 100K miles).

Are you surprised how popular Tesla is among these buyers?

Image: Car & Driver