Tesla Inc. says it set a record by delivering 184,800 cars worldwide in the first quarter of 2021, up from 180,570 in the fourth quarter.
The strong results were on par with the vast majority of automakers, some of which saw triple-digit increases in their U.S. sales in March and enjoyed double-digit jumps for the first quarter.
“We are encouraged by the strong reception of the Model Y in China and are quickly progressing to full production capacity,” the company said. The new Model S and Model X have also been “exceptionally well received,” adding that it’s in the early stages of ramping production in China, the company said in a statement Friday.
Sales breakdown
Tesla currently makes the Model S and X only at its factory in Fremont, California, as well as the Model 3 and Y. it also builds the Model 3 and Model Y at its plant in Shanghai. The company doesn’t break out sales by geography, but the U.S. and China are its largest markets and the bulk of sales in the first quarter were of the Model 3 and Y, according to the figures supplied by the company.
The company built no new Model S or Model X vehicles during the first quarter of the year, according to its report and delivered 2,020 vehicles. Model 3 and Y accounted for 182,780 deliveries.
Tesla is currently in the midst of a major expansion as moves to finish new vehicle and battery plants outside Austin, Texas and the German capital, Berlin. It is planning to launch its first electric pickup truck by the end of the year and saying it will produce a BEV costing around $20,000 in China.
Competition ramping up
After a big run up in its stock price in 2020, the value of Tesla’s shares have started to drop as the company faces new competition from major global automakers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, Volkswagen AG and the Ford Motor Co. and even EV skeptics such as Toyota and Honda.
Rivals are just beginning to promote new vehicles, such as the Ford Mustang Mach E, which compete directly with Tesla’s most popular products, and more such as the all-electric EQS from Mercedes-Benz, which is being touted as the ultimate BEV luxury vehicle, which will be available later this year.
It is also facing new challenges from fresh startups such as Lucid and Rivian, which are preparing to launch new battery-electric vehicles this year.
