Tesla's Sales Decline in China While BYD Surges in January | Carscoops

      The decline in sales coincides with significant drops in various European markets, such as Germany and France.

      A total of 63,238 Teslas were either sold in China or produced there for export.

      Sales were affected by the Chinese New Year holiday, which occurred earlier this year.

      BYD sold 300,538 BEV and PHEV models domestically, reflecting a 49.16% increase.

      Tesla is facing not only decreasing sales across Europe but also a downturn in China. Recent sales data indicates that the American electric vehicle manufacturer’s deliveries in China fell by 11.5% last month, while key domestic competitors like BYD, Changan Automobile, and Xpeng saw increases in their sales figures.

      In January, Tesla sold 63,238 vehicles in China and other regions that receive Teslas made in China, based on information from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Although this is still a strong number, it represents a clear decline from the 71,447 vehicles delivered in January and a steep drop from the 93,766 in December.

      While Tesla may not be pleased with the decrease in sales, several external factors are influencing this trend. The Chinese New Year holiday this year took place from January 28 to February 4, a timeframe when car sales typically slow down. In contrast, last year's holiday lasted from February 10-17, which did not affect January’s sales figures.

      Furthermore, CNEVPost mentions that Tesla’s Shanghai factory paused Model Y production in January to prepare for the launch of a significantly updated version. Production lines are expected to resume by February 14. Additionally, part of the facility used for the Model 3 was temporarily closed from January 26 to February 3.

      Tesla is not alone in experiencing seasonal sales fluctuations. BYD, the rapidly growing electric vehicle giant in China, also reported a dip in sales compared to its record-breaking December. However, it still achieved a modest increase from January. Overall, BYD sold 300,538 battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles locally last month, up 49.16% from February 2023 but down 41.62% from its impressive December total of 514,809 units.

      Despite this downturn, there is potential for Tesla’s sales in China to recover soon. Reports suggest that the company has received as many as 70,000 orders for the new Model Y within the first five days after its local launch. It remains uncertain when deliveries to local customers will commence.