Tesla China set a new record in September, selling more than 56,000 vehicles. The automaker has backed up the record month with another strong performance in October, selling more than 54,000 vehicles last month.
The majority of Septembers figures were domestic sales, with just under 4,000 exported to other markets like Europe.
With October being the first month of the final quarter of the year, that split has been reversed, with the majority being exported abroad.
According to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), Tesla reported a total of 54,931 sales in October.
Of that, 40,666 were exports, with the remaining 14,265 being domestic sales.
A split between Model 3 and Model Y sales has not yet been provided.
Tesla MIC Oct wholesale: 54,391.
(CPCA) https://t.co/fjr7qcuo0w— Moneyball (@DKurac) November 8, 2021
While some might paint the picture of weakening demand in China, the swing between exports and domestic sales was expected.
Elon Musk recently explained Giga Shanghai’s production cycles, saying that the production in the first month of a quarter is primarily for exports.
Then production in the final two months of the quarter is prioritized for domestic sales.
China’s Q4 numbers could be boosted further with the introduction of the Model Y Performance. The Design Studio is estimating deliveries will begin before the end of the year, and one was recently spotted on the factory floor at Giga Shanghai.
Tesla Model Y Performance spotted at Giga Shanghai hinting at imminent first deliveries
