The world's most important and largest car market is China. But Tesla's sales there collapsed in February. In fact, they shrank by 50 percent.
In the Chinese market, Tesla has declined significantly. In fact, the American brand is down almost 50 percent.
According to figures from the industry organization China Passenger Car Association, Tesla delivered 30,688 cars in China in February.
Reuters writes.
This figure translates to a decrease of 49.2 percent compared to the same period last year. The decrease is not unique, as the brand has also declined significantly in Denmark.
In fact, similar trends can be traced in Europe. Especially in Denmark, where Tesla has registered a 58 percent drop in sales in February, resulting in 'only' 508 new cars on the roads.
Tesla is actually collapsing even more in Denmark
In comparison, Volkswagen managed to sell 747 ID.4s, while the ID.3 takes second place with 489 sales. Third place is occupied by another VAG product – the Skoda Enyaq with 460 new cars.
In an attempt to counter the declining demand, Tesla is now focusing on a new design for the Model Y. The hope is that the facelift can regain the lost market share.
However, there are indications that demand for the new model is not overwhelming.
Conversely, Chinese media reported that Tesla had sold 50,000 cars in China alone just five days after the presentation of the new Model Y. Read more about it here.
Here in Denmark, we shouldn't expect to see piles of the new Model Y just yet. Tesla in Denmark itself estimates that the first cars can be delivered between May and June.
The brand states the same delivery time in both Norway and Sweden. If you can't wait that long, the brand will slash the price to clear out the stock of what is now the old Model Y.
Conversely, Norwegians in particular have an idea as to why Tesla is going backwards in a country that is otherwise so obsessed with electric cars that they are removing VAT on them.
– I think it's a combination of some people having a negative impression of Musk and the fact that a Tesla is no longer a significantly better buy than other electric cars, writes Robert Næss.
He is investment director at Nordea, and said the above in a comment to Norwegian TV2.
And there may be something about that if you ask around in Denmark too. At least you see 'trends' at FDM.
“Many people start by saying, 'I want to buy an electric car, but I don't want it to be a Tesla,'” Ilyas Dogru, the car club's consumer economist, told Reuters.
