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Tesla Model Y still China’s top premium SUV in March despite Covid headwinds

(Credit: Tesla Greater China)

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Despite Covid headwinds, the Tesla Model Y is still performing very well in China’s domestic auto market. As per data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), the Tesla Model Y was the country’s top-selling premium SUV in March, selling 39,730 units during the month. This was enough to place the Model Y far ahead of its rivals in the premium SUV sector. 

The Mercedes-Benz GLC, for example, is China’s second-best-selling premium SUV, but it only sold 12,748 units in March. The third-best-selling premium SUV, the BMW X3, saw 11,231 sales in the same month. This meant that the Model Y outsold both the No.2 and No.3 SUVs in China three times over in March — a month when Tesla was already experiencing the country’s renewed Covid restrictions. 

With such results, it was no surprise that the Model Y was also China’s best-selling premium SUV for the first quarter. As per CPCA data, a total of 74,681 Model Ys were sold in Q1 2022, putting it far ahead of the Mercedes-Benz GLC, which sold 45,037 in the same period. The BMW X3 was in third place once more, with a total of 39,592 units sold in Q1 2022. 

The Model Y would not be able to achieve its feats in China if it was not supported by a dedicated electric vehicle production facility that was ramping its numbers to a notable degree. It should be noted that the 39,730 Model Ys that were sold in China in March represents a 291.4% increase from the 10,151 that were sold in March 2021. The 74,681 Model Ys that were sold in the first quarter also represented a 354.8% increase from the 16,422 units that were sold in Q1 2021. 

The Model Y’s increasing sales hint at the improving output of Gigafactory Shanghai, which is still being optimized today. Giga Shanghai is key to Tesla’s worldwide expansion, as the facility is currently playing the role of the company’s primary vehicle export hub. Unfortunately, Giga Shanghai has remained closed since the end of March due to Shanghai’s stringent Covid restrictions. 

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It’s not only the Model Y that is performing well in China. Its sibling, the Model 3, has also shown some resilience in the country’s domestic auto market. Tesla Model 3 sales in March were listed at 26,024 units, placing the all-electric premium sedan behind much cheaper rivals such as the SAIC-GM-Wuling’s Hongguang Mini EV, which sold 41,980 units, and the Nissan Sylphy, which sold 30,240. The Model 3 ultimately sold 33,619 units in the first quarter of 2022, which is quite understandable considering Tesla’s focus on the Model Y. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been very optimistic about the Model Y, noting last year that he believes that the all-electric crossover could be on track to become the world’s best-selling car. “I’d say more likely than not that in 2022 Model Y is the best-selling car or truck of any kind in the world,” Musk said, noting that the Model Y might accomplish this sometime in 2022. This timeframe could be adjusted, however, considering the Covid headwinds currently affecting China and Gigafactory Shanghai. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Cybertruck

Tesla updates Cybertruck owners about key Powershare feature

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla is updating Cybertruck owners on its timeline of a massive feature that has yet to ship: Powershare with Powerwall.

Powershare is a bidirectional charging feature exclusive to Cybertruck, which allows the vehicle’s battery to act as a portable power source for homes, appliances, tools, other EVs, and more. It was announced in late 2023 as part of Tesla’s push into vehicle-to-everything energy sharing, and acting as a giant portable charger is the main advantage, as it can provide backup power during outages.

Cybertruck’s Powershare system supports both vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-home (V2H), making it flexible and well-rounded for a variety of applications.

However, even though the feature was promised with Cybertruck, it has yet to be shipped to vehicles. Tesla communicated with owners through email recently regarding Powershare with Powerwall, which essentially has the pickup act as an extended battery.

Powerwall discharge would be prioritized before tapping into the truck’s larger pack.

However, Tesla is still working on getting the feature out to owners, an email said:

“We’re writing to let you know that the Powershare with Powerwall feature is still in development and is now scheduled for release in mid-2026. 

This new release date gives us additional time to design and test this feature, ensuring its ability to communicate and optimize energy sharing between your vehicle and many configurations and generations of Powerwall. We are also using this time to develop additional Powershare features that will help us continue to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.”

Owners have expressed some real disappointment in Tesla’s continuous delays in releasing the feature, as it was expected to be released by late 2024, but now has been pushed back several times to mid-2026, according to the email.

Foundation Series Cybertruck buyers paid extra, expecting the feature to be rolled out with their vehicle upon pickup.

Cybertruck’s Lead Engineer, Wes Morrill, even commented on the holdup:

He said that “it turned out to be much harder than anticipated to make powershare work seamlessly with existing Powerwalls through existing wall connectors. Two grid-forming devices need to negotiate who will form and who will follow, depending on the state of charge of each, and they need to do this without a network and through multiple generations of hardware, and test and validate this process through rigorous certifications to ensure grid safety.”

It’s nice to see the transparency, but it is justified for some Cybertruck owners to feel like they’ve been bait-and-switched.

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Tesla’s northernmost Supercharger in North America opens

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has opened its northernmost Supercharger in Fairbanks, Alaska, with eight V4 stalls located in one of the most frigid cities in the U.S.

Located just 196 miles from the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks’s average temperature for the week was around -12 degrees Fahrenheit. However, there are plenty of Tesla owners in Alaska who have been waiting for more charging options out in public.

There are only 36 total Supercharger stalls in Alaska, despite being the largest state in the U.S.

Eight Superchargers were added to Fairbanks, which will eventually be a 48-stall station. Tesla announced its activation today:

The base price per kWh is $0.43 at the Fairbanks Supercharger. Thanks to its V4 capabilities, it can charge at speeds up to 325 kW.

Despite being the northernmost Supercharger in North America, it is not even in the Top 5 northernmost Superchargers globally, because Alaska is south of Norway. The northernmost Supercharger is in Honningsvåg, Norway. All of the Top 5 are in the Scandanavian country.

Tesla’s Supercharger expansion in 2025 has been impressive, and although it experienced some early-quarter slowdowns due to V3-to-V4 hardware transitions, it has been the company’s strongest year for deployments.

Through the three quarters of 2025, the company has added 7,753 stations and 73,817 stalls across the world, a 16 percent increase in stations and an 18 percent increase in stalls compared to last year.

Tesla is on track to add over 12,000 stalls for the full year, achieving an average of one new stall every hour, an impressive statistic.

Recently, the company wrapped up construction at its Supercharger Oasis in Lost Hills, California, a 168-stall Supercharger that Tesla Solar Panels completely power. It is the largest Supercharger in the world.

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Tesla shocks with latest Robotaxi testing move

Why Tesla has chosen to use a couple of Model S units must have a reason; the company is calculated in its engineering and data collection efforts, so this is definitely more than “we just felt like giving our drivers a change of scenery.”

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Credit: Sawyer Merritt | X

Tesla Model S vehicles were spotted performing validation testing with LiDAR rigs in California today, a pretty big switch-up compared to what we are used to seeing on the roads.

Tesla utilizes the Model Y crossover for its Robotaxi fleet. It is adequately sized, the most popular vehicle in its lineup, and is suitable for a wide variety of applications. It provides enough luxury for a single rider, but enough room for several passengers, if needed.

However, the testing has seemingly expanded to one of Tesla’s premium flagship offerings, as the Model S was spotted with the validation equipment that is seen entirely with Model Y vehicles. We have written several articles on Robotaxi testing mules being spotted across the United States, but this is a first:

Why Tesla has chosen to use a couple of Model S units must have a reason; the company is calculated in its engineering and data collection efforts, so this is definitely more than “we just felt like giving our drivers a change of scenery.”

It seems to hint that Tesla could add a premium, more luxury offering to its Robotaxi platform eventually. Think about it: Uber has Uber Black, Lyft has Lyft Black. These vehicles and services are associated with a more premium cost as they combine luxury models with more catered transportation options.

Tesla could be testing the waters here, and it could be thinking of adding the Model S to its fleet of ride-hailing vehicles.

Reluctant to remove the Model S from its production plans completely despite its low volume contributions to the overall mission of transitioning the world to sustainable energy, the flagship sedan has always meant something. CEO Elon Musk referred to it, along with its sibling Model X, as continuing on production lines due to “sentimental reasons.”

However, its purpose might have been expanded to justify keeping it around, and why not? It is a cozy, premium offering, and it would be great for those who want a little more luxury and are willing to pay a few extra dollars.

Of course, none of this is even close to confirmed. However, it is reasonable to speculate that the Model S could be a potential addition to the Robotaxi fleet. It’s capable of all the same things the Model Y is, but with more luxuriousness, and it could be the perfect addition to the futuristic fleet.

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