February sees a 49% drop in Tesla's wholesale sales in China, contrasting with a significant rise in BYD's sales.
Tesla's wholesale vehicle sales in China decreased significantly in February, with reports indicating the company sold 30,688 vehicles in the world's largest electric vehicle market.
This represents a 49% decline compared to the same month last year.
In sharp contrast, Chinese automaker BYD experienced a substantial increase in sales, reaching over 318,000 fully electric and hybrid vehicles in February.
This figure marks an impressive 161% year-on-year growth.
The significance of wholesale data lies in its ability to reflect manufacturer demand rather than consumer purchasing behavior.
This indicates production levels and market demand for vehicles.
The declining sales figures for
Tesla may suggest intensifying competition, particularly from local manufacturers such as BYD, as well as a potential global decline in demand for
Tesla vehicles.
In 2024,
Tesla recorded total sales of 1.79 million vehicles, slightly down from the previous year.
In comparison, BYD sold 1.76 million fully electric vehicles and combined with hybrid sales, totaled 4.25 million units sold.
Tesla's challenges are not confined to China; sales in Europe also saw a notable decline in January.
Furthermore,
Tesla's stock price experienced a significant drop last week.
Several factors are being discussed regarding these trends, including the recent transition of
Tesla's factories to produce the updated Model Y and the Juniper vehicle, which may have impacted consumer demand as buyers await the new models.
Additionally, surveys suggest that some consumer reluctance may be linked to
Elon Musk's recent political activities and actions that have drawn public scrutiny.