Chinanews client, Beijing, August 13 (Reporter Zhang Xu) With the announcement of July sales, Tesla's sales in China plummeted by 70% month-on-month, causing widespread concern.
According to data released by the China Travel Association, in July, Tesla's wholesale sales in China were 32,968 vehicles, an increase of 199% year-on-year, of which 24,347 were exported. Based on this calculation, only 8,621 vehicles were sold in China.
In June, its China delivery volume was 28,138.
Tesla Model Y and new Model 3 models were unveiled at major experience centers in Shanghai.
Photo by Yin Liqin
Sales in China have fallen sharply, and Tesla is "dead"?
Regarding the decrease in sales in China, Tesla has already explained in its second-quarter financial report: “Due to strong demand in the US local market and consideration of global average cost optimization, Tesla has completed the Shanghai Gigafactory as its main car export. The transformation of the center".
In other words, exports are a major function of Tesla China.
Of course, this will also cause delays in domestic delivery time.
Tesla's official website shows that if you want to order Tesla Model 3, the delivery time is 4-6 weeks, compared with 1-3 weeks before.
Model 3 waits longer.
"Tesla's sales data is normal, mainly because of the recent strong demand in the European market," said Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Travel Association. The European new energy vehicle market has exploded in 2020, and new energy vehicle sales have increased by 120% year-on-year. The reason is that the strict requirements of EU regulations have forced German and French car companies to produce new energy vehicles in large quantities to achieve a cliff-like decline in carbon emissions.
Cui Dongshu said that the replacement of traditional vehicles by new energy vehicles in the European market has become a blue ocean in the new market, with huge potential for future development.
In addition to Tesla China, products of other Chinese auto companies are also constantly entering the European market.
Musk: The chip is not enough
Regarding the sharp decline in sales in China, Musk responded via social media: Tesla produced cars in the first half of the season mainly for export, and only sold in the local market in the second half.
Musk also said that Tesla's production capacity is being limited by the supply of some standard automotive chips, and criticized Renesas Bosch by name, saying that the two suppliers have the most serious problems.
Musk responded to the sharp drop in sales.
In fact, all automakers are now suffering from a lack of cores, and Tesla is not the only one who named these two chip factories.
Ford Motor has previously stated that a fire at Renesas Electronics' plant in northern Japan is the biggest risk to the company's production arrangements. The delivery of Mustang Mach-E, which Ford has placed so much hope on, has also been delayed for six weeks due to supply chain challenges.
According to the reporter's incomplete statistics, since 2021, many car companies have stopped work and reduced production due to "core shortage", including Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan, Ford, Suzuki, Volvo and other well-known companies are deeply involved.
The forecast report released by the information service provider HIS shows that in the first quarter of 2021, the number of light-duty vehicle production reductions caused by chip shortages reached 672,000, and this number increased to 1.3 million in the second quarter.
Tesla may push 160,000 yuan models
Whether it is for export or lack of chips, it can't conceal the embarrassment of a sharp drop in sales in China. Tesla, which is good at trading price for volume, is constantly making moves.
On July 8, the Model Y standard battery life version was launched on Tesla's official website in China. The starting price is 276,000 yuan, which is 71,900 yuan lower than the starting price of the long battery version. This is also the first time that Tesla's pure electric SUV price Dropped to less than 300,000 yuan.
Tesla sales staff said that Model Y orders are hot.
As a result, the sales staff told reporters that Model Y orders are hot, the time difference between placing the order is two days, and the difference between the car is one month.
"Model 3 has become the world's best-selling high-end car, Model Y will soon break the record set by Model 3." Musk said before.
In May, the domestically produced Model Y sold 12,728 units, which surpassed Model 3 sales in China.
In addition, the Model Y standard battery life version will be delivered in August.
On July 30, Tesla lowered the price of the upgraded version of the Model 3 standard battery life by 15,000 yuan, and the adjusted price was 235,900 yuan.
Since the Tesla Model 3 entered China, it has experienced more than a dozen rounds of price cuts, with a drop of more than 100,000 yuan.
However, no one knows how low Tesla can go.
Data map: New energy vehicle production line.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Zhang Bin
In addition, Zhu Xiaotong, president of Tesla China, once said that Tesla is developing models for the mass market, priced at about 160,000 yuan.
According to media reports, BYD will supply blade batteries to Tesla in the second quarter of next year, and the current Tesla models equipped with blade batteries have entered the C-sample test phase.
The first to be equipped with blade batteries is likely to be this 160,000 yuan model.
If Tesla drops to 160,000 yuan, what will happen to the battle for the new energy car track?
(Finish)