The Model 3 contributed 4.78 percent to Tesla's sales in China in September, a new low since October 2021, likely because Chinese customers are waiting for the new Model 3.
The Model Y continued to contribute the lion's share of Tesla's (NASDAQ: TSLA) sales in China last month, while the Model 3 saw a big drop in volume as deliveries of its new version have yet to begin.
Tesla has a factory in Shanghai that produces the Model 3 sedan as well as the Model Y SUV. Deliveries of the locally produced Model 3 and Model Y in China started in January 2020 and January 2021, respectively.
The Model Y's retail sales in China in September were 41,428 units, contributing 95.22 percent of Tesla's September retail sales of 43,507 units in China, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) shared by local automotive media outlet Yiche.
The SUV's sales in China last month were 11.28 percent lower than the 46,694 it sold in the same period last year, and 18.95 percent lower than the 51,117 it sold in August.
In the January-September period, the Model Y sold 278,681 units in China, up 61.63 percent from a year earlier.
On October 1, Tesla launched an updated Model Y in China, with unchanged prices but minor updates to features.
The Model 3's retail sales in China in September were 2,079 units, contributing 4.78 percent to Tesla's sales in China. The contribution was a new low since October 2021.
That's 93.28 percent lower year-on-year and 84.69 percent lower than the 13,577 units sold in August, likely because Chinese customers are waiting for the official launch of the new Model 3.
Tesla unveiled the new Model 3 in China on September 1 and started pre-sales for it. The model is available in 2 versions, with pre-sales starting at RMB 259,900 ($35,610) and RMB 295,900 respectively, higher than the model previously on sale.
Official sales of the new Model 3 in China have not yet begun, and Tesla's China website shows that the expected delivery date for the model is the fourth quarter.
By the end of September, 113,620 Model 3s had been delivered in China so far this year, up 14.72 percent year-on-year, data monitored by CnEVPost showed.
Tesla sold 74,073 China-made vehicles in September, including 30,566 exported and 43,507 delivered in China, data released earlier this month by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed.
Including exports, the China-made Model Y sold 53,249 units in September, and the Model 3 20,824, according to the CPCA.
($1 = RMB 7.2985)
