In March 2023, Tesla's Model Y becomes the best selling SUV in China
Tesla
Tesla's Model Y has emerged as China's best-selling SUV in March 2023, following substantial price cuts at the beginning of the year. The China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reports that Tesla sold 54,937 Model Ys in the country in March, representing a 38% increase from March 2022 and a 115% increase from February.
The Model Y's impressive sales performance is attributed to Tesla's decision to reduce prices by up to 13% in January, making the electric SUV more accessible to a broader consumer base. This strategic move paid off, as the Model Y outperformed other SUVs in March, including the second-place BYD Song, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which sold 40,114 units during the same period.
Model Y Ranks Second in Q1 SUV Sales, Leads Among Electric Vehicles
Despite this strong performance, the Model Y fell short of becoming the best-selling SUV in China for Q1 2023. BYD Song accumulated 141,415 sales from January to March, outpacing Model Y, which saw 94,647 sales. However, the Model Y was the only electric vehicle to achieve such a high ranking, far ahead of the third-placed BYD Yuan Plus, which sold 62,528 units.
Tesla's strong start to the year in China began with 66,051 Model 3 and Model Y sales in January, followed by 74,402 sales in February. March's near-record sales of 88,869 units contributed to a quarterly total of approximately 229,322 units, accounting for more than half of Tesla's global sales for Q1 2023.
Strong Q1 Sales Solidify Tesla's Position in the Chinese Market
The Model Y's exceptional performance in China highlights Tesla's continued success in the market as Chinese consumers increasingly embrace electric vehicles. The strategic price reductions at the start of Q1 allowed more potential buyers to consider purchasing a Tesla, resulting in impressive sales figures for the first three months of the year.
As Tesla Model Y sales continue to soar in China, the automaker is well-positioned further to solidify its position in the country's SUV market. The Model Y's dominance among electric SUVs showcases the growing demand for EVs and the potential for Tesla to capitalize on this trend.
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Each year, around the Holiday season, Tesla puts up pop-up mall displays across the United States, Canada, and certain locations in Europe. It looks like Tesla is continuing this tradition once again this year, as David Zhai, Concept and Prototype Staff Manager at Tesla, has stated on LinkedIn that the Tesla Pop-Up Shops are returning.
Pop-Up Displays
Tesla intends to build small pop-up displays featuring Tesla vehicles, including the Cybertruck, at major malls throughout the United States. These displays are usually temporary and just for the holiday season. However, they’re placed in high-traffic areas, usually near the center of major malls - near food courts and rest areas.
They’re also usually staffed by members of the local Delivery/Service Center, who are around to answer questions and show off the features of the vehicles on display. After all, seeing a Cybertruck from a distance is one thing - sitting inside is entirely another.
Other Regions
David Zhai didn’t mention whether these would be coming to other regions - just the United States. It seems that while Tesla previously ran these displays globally, it may not be the case this year. We’ll keep an eye out and see if they start popping up in Canada, Europe, or China - let us know if you spot one there!
Drive-By Displays
When Cybertruck launched, Tesla also held drive-by displays throughout North America and Europe. They drove the Cybertruck into places like New York’s Times Square while towing a Model 3 or Model Y on a trailer behind it. These displays were really popular and attracted tons of attention.
We’re hoping to see more of these drive-by displays make a comeback sometime soon. Many owners have yet to see the new Model 3 or the Tesla Semi up close and personal.
Tesla has updated their referral program, and there are quite a few interesting changes to boot. There are now bigger discounts for buyers and bigger rewards for referrers, and it seems that the referral program has also had its cap reset.
The updated program has rolled out to North America - so both Canada and the United States. The changes are not active in Europe, China, or other regions - but keep your eyes out. Tesla will probably enable the new rewards in the coming days.
New Referral Discount
The new referral discount now provides up to $2,000 USD off your vehicle purchase, and includes any of Tesla’s vehicles - including the Cybertruck in the United States. The Model S, X and Cybertruck get the steepest discounts at $2,000 off, while the Model 3 and Model Y buyers get $1,000 off.
For Canadians, it's $2,600 CAD off your purchase, but the Cybertruck and Model 3 are exempt. In Canada, the Model Y gets the same discount as the Model S and X.
Inventory vehicles are included in the discount, which means you could potentially score a demo vehicle for several thousand dollars off right now. Used vehicles are not eligible for the discount.
In conjunction with the 0% Financing if you purchase FSD, now is one of the best times to purchase a new Tesla, especially with both the US and Canadian Federal EV Rebates potentially ending next year.
New Referral Reward
The reward is also much higher - $1,000 USD in the United States, and $1,300 CAD in Canada. That’s the highest the referral reward program has ever been, and it’s quite a big set of rewards. You can now obtain up to $10,000 USD or $13,000 CAD off your next vehicle purchase, or put it towards Tesla Shop Accessories, Supercharging, or even Tesla Service.
Interestingly, the program also says that referrers have the chance to win an invite to an upcoming special Tesla event. Given we just had We, Robot, the next event could be the launch of the Model Y Juniper or the $25,000 next-gen car.
Referral Reset
If you had maxed out the original referral program, meaning that you could no longer earn new referrals, Tesla has now reset the count. The updated program is once again a 10-referral limit, which will reset again either once Tesla updates the referral program or a 12-month cycle rolls over.