BEIJING, May 11 (TMTPOST)— Tesla sold 25,845 electric vehicles (EVs) in China, dropping 37% from sales in the previous month, while among the latest monthly sales, 14,174 units were exported, setting a new export record for the U.S. EV maker’s Shanghai Gigafactory, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
CPCA’s data showed the total retail sales of new energy passenger cars were 163,000 units, with a year-over-year increase of 192.8% and month-over-month decrease of 12%. And SAIC-GM-Wuling is top seller with sales of 30, 602 units, followed by Tesla and BYD each of which sold more than 25,000 units that month.
Tesla’s sales decline was unsurprising since April is the first month of the second quarter, when manufactures normally adjust their orders and production and the delivery would fall down accordingly, said Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the CPCA. Besides seasonal factor, Cui noted Tesla has to continue meeting demand for the European market. Cui expected impact of the disgruntled woman car owner’s protest at Shanghai Autoshow in April was limited.