Tesla is wrapping up the first quarter of 2025 with a strong performance in China. After a slow start to the year, Giga Shanghai is back in full swing, and the China team looks to be ending March with its strongest sales week of 2025, and one of the best in its history.
While official sales data for March has not yet been released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), newly released insurance registration data which serves as a close proxy shows Tesla China recorded 21,000 new vehicle registrations during the week ending March 30.
This figure is not only the highest weekly figure of Q1 2025 but also the fourth highest week ever for the company in the Chinese market. This performance is notable considering the highest weekly record stands at 23,100 units, set back in 2022. This is in stark contrast to figures from earlier this year when Tesla recorded as few as 1,800 insurance registrations in the final week of January.
$TSLA
— Tsla Chan (@Tslachan) April 1, 2025
BREAKING: Tesla China insured units
<Mar 2025>
3-9 : 13,800
10-16 : 15,300
17-23 : 17,400
24-30 : 21,000
pic.twitter.com/lBQj7MU1Dn
The catalyst behind this momentum is the new Model Y. The updated version of the electric SUV was introduced to the Chinese market in January, and with it Giga Shanghai had to temporarily shut down and transition its production lines to accommodate the new design. That, along with customers waiting to order the new Model Y, which began deliveries in China in February, caused a lull in sales, which now appears to be well in the rearview mirror.
With the surge in sales, Tesla has been able to surpass its year-to-date (YTD) performance from Q1 2024. As of the end of March 2025, Tesla China has recorded 137,200 registrations, up about 1.8% year-over-year, despite operating below full capacity during much of the quarter due to the Model Y transition.
With the Model Y regaining momentum and production stabilizing, all eyes are now on how Tesla will perform in Q2, a traditionally stronger quarter for the automaker. If current trends hold, Tesla could be poised for another record-breaking year in China.
