This represents a 10.37 percent increase over the 59,845 vehicles sold in the same month last year and an 18.38 percent increase over the 55,796 vehicles sold in December.
Tesla sold 66,051 China-made vehicles in January, including exports, according to preliminary figures released today by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
That's up 10.37 percent from 59,845 units a year ago and up 18.38 percent from 55,796 units in December.
The CPCA did not provide more details on Tesla's figures, including the number of vehicles sold in China or the number exported, which they are expected to have available in the coming days.
Tesla has a factory in Shanghai that makes the Model 3 sedan as well as the Model Y crossover, and is an export hub for the electric vehicle giant in addition to deliveries to local consumers.
Tesla's pattern is that the vehicles produced in the first half of each quarter are mainly for export, while those produced in the second half are for local deliveries, according to information previously released by the company.
This is the first figure for sales of vehicles that include exports from Tesla's Shanghai plant after it cut prices in China a month ago.
Tesla sharply reduced the prices of the full Model 3 and Model Y lineup in China on January 6, its second price cut in China in three months.
The starting price for the entry-level rear-wheel-drive Model 3 dropped to RMB 229,900 ($34,100), down RMB 36,000 from the previous RMB 265,900. This is the lowest starting price ever for a Model 3 in China, even below the January 2021 starting price of RMB 249,900.
Local media outlet Sina reported on January 10 that Tesla received 30,000 orders in China within three days of announcing the price cut.
On February 1, Reuters cited a memo saying Tesla plans to produce an average of nearly 20,000 vehicles a week at its Shanghai plant in February and March, as the price cut spurred demand.
Tesla's Shanghai plant, which produces the Model 3 sedan and the Model Y crossover, now has an annual capacity of about 1.1 million vehicles after a production line upgrade late last year.
According to Reuters, producing an average of nearly 20,000 cars per week means monthly production would exceed 80,000, comparable to September 2022, when the plant made 82,088 Model 3 and Model Y cars.
Wholesale sales of new energy passenger vehicles in China were expected to be 410,000 units in January, down about 45 percent from December and essentially unchanged from a year ago, the CPCA said.
China's NEV market is expected to grow more significantly in February, both year-on-year and month-on-month, the CPCA added.
Here are all the data released by the CPCA today.
