Tesla’s retail sales in China experienced a decline in April, following a decrease in sales of cars produced at its Shanghai factory. According to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), Tesla sold a total of 58,459 vehicles in April, with 29,728 units designated for export.
This translates to 28,731 vehicles sold in China’s domestic market in April, reflecting an 8.56 percent drop from the previous year. In March, Tesla had sold 74,127 vehicles domestically, indicating a significant decline of 61.24 percent.
The electric vehicle maker operates a factory in Shanghai, where it produces the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover for both local deliveries and exports. Tesla follows a production pattern of prioritizing export production in the first half of the quarter and local market production in the second half.
In April, the Shanghai plant’s exports saw a slight decrease of 3.31 percent compared to the same month a year ago. However, there was a notable increase of 532.38 percent from the previous month.
Overall, Tesla China’s sales, including exports, were down 5.96 percent from the previous year and 25.84 percent from March.
The wholesale sales of the Model Y in China totaled 33,960 units in April, marking a 6.25 percent increase from the previous year. However, this figure represented a 30.73 percent drop from March sales.
On the other hand, the wholesale sales of the Model 3, including exports, amounted to 24,499 units in April. This reflected a decline of 18.89 percent from the previous year and 17.79 percent from March.
In April, China’s retail sales of passenger new energy vehicles (NEVs) reached 905,000 units, up 33.98 percent year-on-year but down 8.68 percent from March. Specifically, the retail sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in April were 559,000 units, showing a 37.96 percent increase from the previous year but a 13.47 percent decrease from March.
Tesla’s contribution to China’s passenger NEV retail sales in April was 3.17 percent, down from 7.48 percent in March. Additionally, Tesla’s retail share of the Chinese BEV market in April was 5.14 percent, a notable decrease from 11.47 percent in March.
In the first four months of the year, Tesla’s retail sales in China’s domestic market totaled 163,338 units, representing a slight decrease of 0.31 percent compared to the previous year.
As competition in the EV industry intensifies, Tesla has ramped up promotions for the updated Model Y in China. The company continues to navigate market dynamics and consumer preferences to maintain its position in the rapidly evolving automotive landscape.
