Gary Zhou 
Key Points
- 🚗 Tesla China saw an estimated 10,000 domestic sales for the week ending July 16, indicating strong momentum in domestic sales.
- 📈 The 10,000 domestic sales represent a 212.50% increase in sales compared to the previous week’s figures.
- 🇨🇳 Tesla China’s ability to sell around 13,000 vehicles domestically between July 1 and 16 is promising for the third quarter.
- 🚙 The majority of the vehicles sold in China during this period are likely to be Model Y crossovers.
- 🏭 Tesla China’s operations continue to be robust, with the production of over one million Model Y units at Gigafactory Shanghai and steady sales growth.
Despite Tesla China likely directing its resources towards vehicle exports as the third quarter begins, the company’s domestic sales seem to be performing well. Industry experts estimate that Tesla China achieved approximately 10,000 domestic sales for the week ending July 16.
Tesla China does not publicly disclose its weekly sales figures within the country. However, analysts observe the number of new vehicle registrations from the previous week to infer the general trend of the company’s domestic sales. Insurance registrations serve as a significant indicator in China, with electric vehicle manufacturers like Li Auto even publishing weekly reports on insurance registrations in the country.
With an estimated 10,000 domestic sales for the week ending July 16, Tesla China seems to be maintaining some pretty strong momentum despite Giga Shanghai’s focus on exports at this stage in the quarter. Considering that there were only 3,200 insurance registrations for the week ending July 9, Tesla China saw a 212.50% increase in domestic sales week-over-week.
This also means that between July 1 and 16, Tesla China was able to sell around 13,000 vehicles domestically in China. This bodes well for the third quarter, especially since the demand for the Model 3 sedan is possibly seeing some headwinds today due to consumers’ anticipation of the vehicle’s Project Highland update. With this in mind, it would not be surprising if the majority of the 13,000 vehicles sold this Q3 so far in China were mostly Model Y crossovers.
Tesla China continues to be a strong player in the electric vehicle maker’s operations. On July 13, Tesla announced that Gigafactory Shanghai had produced its one millionth Model Y to date. This was a notable milestone considering that Model Y production only started in January 2021. The facility’s vehicle production ramp also faced headwinds such as last year’s Covid-related shutdowns.
