Tesla has overtaken Audi in global vehicle sales for the first time in 2024, despite experiencing a slight dip in deliveries compared to the previous year. According to data from Audi and Tesla, the U.S. electric vehicle maker sold 1.79 million units, marking a decrease of about 1.1%, while Audi, owned by Volkswagen, reported sales of 1.67 million vehicles, a drop of 12% year-over-year.
This milestone underscores Tesla’s growing dominance in the global automotive market, particularly as traditional German automakers, including Audi, face challenges in meeting demand amid the ongoing shift to electric vehicles (EVs). Audi’s sales declines were particularly notable in key markets such as Germany, China, and North America. The luxury automaker also saw a decline in battery-electric vehicle sales, which fell by approximately 8%, reaching around 164,000 units.
In the U.S., Tesla’s strong performance stood out, with the company leading the market with 633,000 units sold. Audi, in contrast, sold just 23,152 units, trailing behind several other automakers, including General Motors (114,432), Ford (97,865), and Hyundai (61,797). Audi’s performance was still strong compared to its parent company Volkswagen, which recorded only 18,183 deliveries in the U.S.
The sales decline also comes at a time when Audi is restructuring its operations, including the planned closure of a factory in Brussels, Belgium. The shutdown is largely attributed to weak demand for Audi’s electric Q8 e-tron SUV, which is produced at the facility. Despite this, Audi has expressed confidence in its electric future, aiming to regain momentum with new EV models.
Source: Bloomberg
