Tesla China has reached a significant milestone, exporting over 1 million electric vehicles (EVs) to global markets. Of these, more than 107,000 units were shipped to Australia, according to recent reports, solidifying Tesla’s growing presence in the country’s electric vehicle landscape.
Industry data from carloop, as reported by The Driven, revealed that Giga Shanghai, Tesla’s manufacturing hub in China, has been responsible for nearly 50% of all electric passenger cars in Australia. Tesla began exporting vehicles from Giga Shanghai in April 2021, making the milestone particularly noteworthy given the relatively short timeframe.
Tesla China’s Vice President, Grace Tao, marked the occasion with a social media post, highlighting the company’s rapid progress. “In just four years since the first batch of vehicles were exported, Tesla made in China has been exported to many countries and regions such as Europe, Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, and has been highly recognized by overseas markets,” Tao said.
Tesla’s presence in Australia dates back to 2011 with the delivery of its original Tesla Roadster. Since then, the company has exported the Model S, Model X, and Model 3 to the country, initially from its Fremont factory in California. However, in recent years, Giga Shanghai has become Tesla’s primary export hub, delivering both the Model 3 and the Model Y, which have performed exceptionally well in Australia.
In 2023, the Tesla Model Y overtook the Model 3 as Australia’s best-selling electric vehicle, with 28,769 units sold. The trend appears to continue in 2024, with the Model Y leading EV sales at 15,199 units as of the end of August, followed closely by the reengineered Model 3, which sold 12,902 units.
