Tesla sold 74,402 China-made EVs in February, marking a 12.64% increase from January’s sales of 66,051 units, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The figures included Tesla’s exports from its Shanghai plant, as well as its deliveries within China. The breakdown figures of the sales are currently unavailable.
The CPCA data also showed that Tesla’s February sales in China rose by 31.65% from 56,515 units in the same month last year. During the first two months of 2022, Tesla sold a total of 140,453 China-made EVs, up 20.71% from the same period last year, the CPCA added.
Tesla’s Giga Shanghai is the automaker’s largest factory worldwide, producing Model 3 and Model Y vehicles with an annual capacity of about 1.1 million vehicles.
Tesla is upgrading its production line at the Shanghai plant in stages over the past two months to begin rolling out a revamped version of the Model 3 in the Chinese market. The upgraded version, codenamed “Highland,” is expected to go into production in September 2022, aiming to cut production costs and boost the appeal of the electric sedan, which first went on sale in 2017, according to people involved in the project.
Besides, the Reuters report also noted that Tesla is preparing for a production makeover for the Model Y, codenamed “Project Juniper.” The changes to the Model Y involve the exterior and interior of the crossover EV, with the goal of starting production in 2024.
Meanwhile, the CPCA forecast China’s new energy passenger vehicle wholesale sales to be 500,000 units in February, up 30% from January and up 60% year-on-year. BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle maker, posted data on March 1, revealing it sold 193,655 units in February, up from 191,664 units, according to the CPCA.
