Tesla’s operations in China delivered their strongest performance of the year in May, with the automaker recording 85,982 wholesale vehicle sales from Giga Shanghai.
According to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on Tuesday, Tesla’s May total represented a 39.4% increase compared to the same month last year and an 8.2% improvement over April, which itself was a massive 36% rebound.
The result also marks the highest monthly wholesale volume for Tesla China so far in 2026.
Wholesale figures include both vehicles sold domestically in China and those exported to international markets, including Canada.
Strong Momentum Continues for Giga Shanghai
The May performance continues a positive trend for Tesla’s Chinese operations, which have now posted substantially stronger results than the same period in 2025.
Through the first five months of the year, Tesla China has recorded wholesale sales of 378,858 vehicles. That compares to 292,875 vehicles over the same period in 2025, representing growth of nearly 30% year-over-year.
The Shanghai factory remains one of Tesla’s most important production hubs globally. After delivering 79,478 vehicles in April, Tesla’s return to more than 85,000 units in May suggests production and deliveries are continuing their momentum heading into the second quarter’s final month.
Exports Continue Playing a Key Role
While Tesla’s detailed May breakdown has not yet been released, recent months have highlighted the growing importance of exports from Giga Shanghai.
In April, Tesla sold 25,956 vehicles in China’s domestic market while exporting 53,522 vehicles overseas. While some reported this as a crash in demand for Tesla, the company’s export volumes are typically higher in the first half of a quarter, before the company switches to focusing on the local market in the second half.
The CPCA is expected to release the May retail and export breakdown in the coming days, but we expect exports to again be higher than domestic sales. Nearly 3,000 of those exports were destined for Canada.
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