Tesla’s China-made electric vehicle sales reached a total of 72,115 units in October 2023, CnEVPost reports, citing the China Passenger Car Association’s (CPCA) latest data.
It is worth noting that Tesla only currently produces the popular Model 3 and Y in Gigafactory Shanghai.
Below are the breakdowns of Tesla China’s monthly and year-to-date performance in terms of domestic sales and exports:
Monthly (October 2023)
| Tesla China | Sales | YoY Change | MoM Change |
| Domestic | 28,626 | +66.43% | -34.2% |
| Exports | 43,489 | -20.21 | +42.28% |
| Total | 72,115 | – | – |
Notably, Tesla usually ramps up production in the first half of the year for exports, while it will focus on the local market in the latter half.
Of the 72,115 unit sales total, the Tesla Model Y accounted for 47,164 units. The remaining 24,951 units were the all-electric sedan, Tesla Model 3.
YTD (Jan-Oct 2023)
| Tesla China | Sales | YoY Change | MoM Change |
| Domestic | 462,355 | +37.87 | – |
| Exports | 308,816 | +40.74% | – |
| Total | 771,171 | – | – |
Tesla China’s YTD local sales of 462,355 units in October 2022 substantially trail behind Chinese NEV giant BYD’s sales of 2,380,180 units. Refer to the data attached to the X post below:
Tesla’s waning market presence
According to the CPCA, passenger new energy vehicles (NEVs) retail sales reached 767,000 units last month. Therefore, Tesla accounted for a notable 3.73% of the country’s total NEV market (down 5.83% MoM).
Moreover, its share in China’s BEV sales of 495,000 units also dropped 8.7% MoM to 5.78% in October.
Plug-in hybrid sales totaled 271,000 units last month, completing China’s overall NEV sales of 767,000 units.
Going back, these declines in Tesla’s market share only demonstrate the growing dominance of local brands’ cheaper offerings. Furthermore, it is also an obvious outcome of the increasing interest rates in electric vehicles, which Chief Elon Musk previously warned about.
Nonetheless, Tesla China’s market share in the previous quarters will surely recover with the arrival of the refreshed Model 3 Highland and the redesigned Model Y. According to Investing.com, official deliveries of the new Model 3 only began on October 26.
