For the first time ever, Tesla has had a year in which the car brand has sold more cars than Audi. The Germans, on the other hand, are almost a quarter of a million cars short.
For the first time ever, Tesla has surpassed Audi in the number of cars sold worldwide. This happened in 2024, a year marked by challenges for the automotive industry, with both Tesla and Audi experiencing a decline in sales.
Despite this decline, Tesla managed to sell more cars than Audi. According to Bloomberg, Audi sold 1.67 million cars in 2024, a 12 percent drop from the previous year. Tesla sold 1.79 million cars, a one percent drop.
Audi's sales fell in several countries, including Germany, Sweden, China and North America. In Denmark, Audi's sales fell by 720 cars compared to 2023. Sales of Audi's electric cars fell by eight percent. Overall, Audi sold 224,000 fewer cars in 2024.
Both Audi and Tesla have launched new models in an attempt to boost sales. Tesla unveiled its new Model Y on Friday, while Audi is launching a series of new models in 2024. Audi is also planning to launch a completely new car brand in China.
The reasons for Audi's decline are several. The German automaker is facing increased competition, especially from Chinese automakers who are gaining ground in the electric car market.
In addition, the global economic slowdown and rising energy prices have affected consumer demand for new cars.
It is unclear whether Tesla can maintain its leading position in the future. Competition in the electric car market is intense. Both established car manufacturers and new players are investing heavily in the development of new models.
However, some electric cars are more successful than others. Recently, it has emerged that Toyota is now publicly wavering in its faith in the hydrogen car.
“I no longer see a bright future for hydrogen cars,” Hiroki Nakajima, chief technology officer of Toyota Motor Corp., told the Financial Times .
In Denmark, on the other hand, there is nothing to indicate that electric cars will be subject to the registration tax they otherwise should be. That is, according to plan.
Although an environmental and economic expert believes that the time has come to impose a tax on electric cars that will make them as expensive as gasoline and diesel cars, Tax Minister Rasmus Stoklund (S) rejects the idea. He tells DR.
