Tesla Achieves New Sales Milestone In China For September 2022

Tesla sold 83,135 China-made vehicles wholesale in September 2022, smashing its record of monthly sales in China, the China Passenger Car Association reported. The number marks an 8 per cent increase from August 2022 and outpaced more than the 5 per cent month-over-month growth of all wholesale electric vehicle sales in China, according to CPCA data. It set a record for Tesla’s Shanghai factory since production began in December 2019, and topped the prior sales record of 78,906 in June, as the U.S. carmaker continues to invest in China production.

Globally, Tesla, last week said it delivered 343,830 electric vehicles in the third quarter, a record for the world’s most valuable automaker, but less than the 359,162 analysts on average had expected, according to Refinitiv. Tesla quickened its China deliveries after suspending most production at the Shanghai plant in July for an upgrade, which aimed to bring the factory’s weekly output to around 22,000 units compared with levels of around 17,000 in June, Reuters previously reported.

The plant, which manufactures Model 3s and Model Ys, reopened on April 19, 2022, after a COVID lockdown, but only resumed full production in mid-June. Production accelerated despite heatwaves and COVID curbs that hit its suppliers in the southwest region of the country.

China’s BYD continued to lead the domestic EV market with 200,973 wholesale sales in September, a nearly 15 per cent jump from August, as CPCA said higher oil prices and government subsidies continue to encourage more consumers to choose electric vehicles.