Tesla’s China-Made EV Sales Hit 85,670 Units in Mar as NEV Market Recovers

On April 2, the China Passenger Car Association released wholesale sales data for new energy passenger vehicle manufacturers for March 2026.

Preliminary estimates show that nationwide NEV passenger vehicle wholesale volume reached 1.12 million units in March, flat year-on-year but up 55% from February.

Driven by policy support and a wave of new model launches, NEV penetration increased week by week, becoming a key factor behind the market recovery.

At the automaker level, Tesla China reported March wholesale sales of 85,670 units, up 8.7% year-on-year and 46% month-on-month, ranking third behind BYD and Geely.

The data suggests Tesla has returned to a normalized shipment rhythm following a seasonal slowdown earlier in the year.

The top of the rankings remained stable, with BYD leading at 295,693 units, followed by Geely at 127,319 units, and Chery ranking fourth with 64,148 units.

Alongside the rebound in sales, Tesla has recently adjusted its domestic delivery pace, partly in preparation for the updated Model 3.

By late March, estimated delivery times for three versions of the refreshed Model Y—rear-wheel-drive standard range, rear-wheel-drive long range, and all-wheel-drive long range—extended from 1–3 weeks to 2–4 weeks, while the six-seat Model Y L remained at 1–3 weeks.

Historically, Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory prioritizes domestic deliveries at the start of each quarter before gradually shifting toward exports.

As April approaches, the plant is preparing for second-quarter exports, with part of its capacity redirected to overseas markets, directly affecting domestic delivery timelines.

Notably, Tesla Model 3 marked its 10th anniversary of launch yesterday, with cumulative global sales surpassing 3 million units.

The model was the world’s best-selling electric vehicle for three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020, before being overtaken by the Model Y.