Model S Triumph Deliveries Could Surprise You

If you have ever tried to guess which vehicles drivers are substituting with the Tesla Model S, it could be tempting to begin with similarly priced products.

While many Model S customers probably come from Mercedes E-Class territory, CEO Elon Musk let selections from a privately-commissioned Polk report slip during a call with analysts on Wednesday. According to Musk, 4% came from owning a VW Jetta and 3% from a Honda Civic.

Around 10% of Model S customers came from a Toyota Prius. Until recently, the Toyota hybrid allowed Californians to drive alone in HOV lanes. The vehicle’s potential for better commuting and greener status both helped make it an unlikely favorite among well-to-do drivers in the union’s most populous state. Mix the nixed HOV status and potential for even less emissions from the Model S with its exceptional status, and its easy to understand the transition.

Notably, Musk read data from a pie chart during the conference call and listed a handful of vehicles that featured the Nissan Leaf, Toyota highlander, and BMW 5-Series; none of which he shared percentages for.

Then the list got even more interesting when the Honda Odyssey minivan came up with 4% of Model S deliveries. Former Volvo XC 90 customers accounted for the same digit.