The Tesla Model Y ridicules electric and thermal cars in Europe, the proof with these figures

With 71,683 units sold in Europe, the Tesla Model Y is the best-selling car in Europe in the 1st quarter, far ahead of thermal models. The electric SUV is followed by the Model 3, which dominates the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 by far.

Everything seems to be going well for Tesla for a few months, and the difficult situation that the brand went through last year in China and the United States now seems to be far behind it. And that, we owe in particular to its very aggressive pricing policy, while the firm has repeatedly reduced the prices of its Model 3 and Model Y, as well as its Model S and Model X. Result, sales literally soared at the start of the year.

Another great performance

As Tesla announced a few days ago, no less than 440,808 cars were produced worldwide in the first quarter of 2023, for 422,875 deliveries. By way of comparison, only 305,407 cars had been assembled over the same period in 2022, while 310,048 had been returned to their owners. But what explains this growing success?

First, the establishment of $7,500 tax credit in the United States within the framework of the IRA, but not only. Lower prices also had something to do with it, which had the effect of boosting sales of the Model 3 and Model Y. So much so that the SUV is once again the best-selling electric car in Europe in the first quarter according to figures from Jato.

A great performance for the star of the brand, elapsed at 71,683 units between January and March. A figure that even allows it to be the best-selling model on the territory, all engines combined. It therefore dominates, by far, the Dacia Sandero (60,202 units) and the Volkswagen T-Roc (54,960 units) which are thermal cars.

This is not the first time that the electric SUV has topped sales ahead of thermal cars. Indeed, we remember a similar situation in September and last November. Something to reassure investors, whileno vehicle of the brand was present in the ranking of best sellers last October.

Volkswagen is doing very well

In addition to the drop in price, the Model Y also exploded in sales thanks to an increase in the production rate. At the end of last March, Tesla announced that it had succeeded in achieving its goal of assembling 5,000 copies of the electric SUV per week at its Gigafactory in Berlin. The latter is currently the only vehicle of the brand to be manufactured in Europethe others being produced in the United States and China.

These very good figures are reassuring about the situation of Tesla, which could be heckled this year by increasingly tough Chinese competition. This is why the firm is ready to revise its pricing policy further downwards in the coming months. To the detriment of its operating margin, which fell slightly but remained high.

If the Model Y and Model 3 dominate the ranking of best sellers in Europe in the 1st quarter, the SUV and the sedan are closely followed by the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 (17,316 and 16,646 units). The German manufacturer remains top selling brands, with 332,723 copies sold since January. However, this figure also includes a large share of thermal cars. Tesla places itself in 16th position.

We also note the success of the Dacia Spring, which has totaled 14,066 sales since the start of the year. The electric city car is followed by the Volvo XC40 Recharge (13,786 units) and the Fiat 500 (13,543 units). The city car could see its sales increase in France thanks to a promotional operation making it eligible for the ecological bonus of 7,000 euros for all.

The MG4 is in 9th place in the standings, ahead of the Renault Mégane E-Tech. They are overtaken by the Peugeot e-208.

There is a good chance that Tesla’s Model Y will become the best-selling car worldwide in 2023, all engines combined, as Elon Musk predicts. It would then be the first time that an electric car has achieved this feat.

Best-selling electric cars in Europe in the 1st quarter

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