Tesla dominates Australian EV sales
Stock exchange darling sells more EVs in Australia in 2020 than every other brand combined…Tesla imported more battery-electric vehicles into Australia in 2020 than all other brands combined.
Despite production challenges at its Fremont, California, plant in mid-2020, figures obtained by carsales confirm Tesla shipped 2949 vehicles to Australia in 2020.
More than 2600 of them were the Tesla Model 3 mid-size sedan.
The Tesla Model 3 sales result means the battery-electric mid-sizer outpaced sales of conventional-powered segment stars like the Audi A4 (783), but trailed (narrowly) those of the BMW 3 Series (3406) and Mercedes-Benz C-Class (3378).
Unlike the majority of Australia’s new car brands, the American company does not publish its sales figures via the monthly VFACTS report produced by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).
That said, Tesla’s 2020 sales dwarfed the total number of EVs declared as registered by the industry body in 2020 – 1769.
Even in the face of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 was a year of progress for EV sales Down Under.
The near-1800 EVs reported was an increase of 16.2 per cent on 2019 and contrasted the 13.7 per cent decline of the overall new car market.
Tesla’s total shipments into Australia were 152 examples of the Tesla Model S luxury sedan, 176 for the Tesla Model X SUV and 2631 Model 3s.
carsales sources suggest around 2000 Model 3s have already landed in Australia in 2021.
VFACTS is also reporting that electric vehicles are off to a better start in early 2021. Sales of EVs (excluding Tesla) totalled 558 units in January and February combined – a 105 per cent increase compared to the first two months of 2020.
The newly-launched Porsche Taycan, one of two Highly Commended models in the 2020 carsales Car of the Year awards and the winner of the People’s Choice Award, realised 51 sales in February alone.
This week, Volvo confirmed it would increase the number of EVs it offered in Australia and the related all-electric Geely brand Polestar also confirmed it would enter the local marketplace.
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