News
Tesla sales in California show it is still the preferred choice in an EV hotspot
Tesla’s exceptional sales record in California shows that, even though many other EV options exist, it is still the ideal choice in what could be considered the country’s hotspot for electric cars.
Sales figures released by the California Department of Energy show Tesla sold 212,586 units in California in 2022, accounting for just under 73 percent of the 292,496 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sold in the State collectively across all manufacturers.
The Model 3 narrowly edged out the Model Y accounting for 94,683 units sold. The Model Y collected 93,872 units sold for the year, while the Model X (13,319) and Model S (10,712) continue to reaffirm their status as “sentimental” to the company’s big picture.
BMW (15,057) and Ford (14,517) were second and third in registrations, with the X5 (4,346) and Mustang Mach-E (9,860) being the companies’ two best-sellers.
California accounted for 40 percent of zero-emission vehicle sales in the United States, Reuters said. Meanwhile, of the 807,180 BEVs sold in the U.S. last year, according to Motor Intelligence (via WSJ), the 292,496 BEVs sold in California accounted for 36 percent of the U.S. EV market share last year.
The dominance of Tesla in the overall BEV market is impressive, but the domination in an EV hotspot like California is a testament to the company’s advantages over others.
California has a lot of major EV companies, including Rivian, Lucid, Fisker, and others. Even with competitive options from legacy automakers like Ford and well-known luxury brands like BMW, the state’s EV owners are still opting for Tesla more often than not. The question is: Why?
Perhaps Tesla’s biggest advantage in the sector is its Supercharging network, which is currently catered and exclusive to Tesla vehicles. Although reports indicate that Tesla could be opening Superchargers to other EV brands, currently it remains closed to Teslas only, and with so many unproven and small infrastructure companies out there, owners are looking for consistency and availability.
Tesla offers that within the Supercharger network. However, the company also has the best EV tech on the market, and the vehicles have routinely been considered some of the best on Earth in terms of performance. What is astounding is the company’s ability to continue its dominating market share with the increase in competition.
Tesla has continuously fought off reports of weakening demand through most of 2022. Even in early 2023, a series of hefty price cuts from the automaker pushed the narrative that the company was struggling. However, Tesla is returning vehicles to prices similar to what they were before supply chain issues limited the company’s ability to offer more affordable vehicles.
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Elon Musk
Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai
The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.
Tesla China sold 58,599 vehicles wholesale in February, reflecting strong year-over-year growth. The figure includes both domestic deliveries in China and vehicles exported to international markets.
The update was shared by Tesla observers on social media platform X, citing monthly China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data.
Tesla’s February wholesale result represents a 91% increase year over year, compared with 30,688 vehicles in February 2025. Month over month, the result was down 15.2% from January, when Tesla China recorded 69,129 wholesale units.
The February total reflects combined sales of the Model 3 and Model Y produced at Gigafactory Shanghai. The facility produces the two vehicles for both domestic sales and exports.
Gigafactory Shanghai continues to serve as Tesla’s primary vehicle export hub, supplying vehicles to markets across Asia and Europe. Data compiled by Tesla watchers shows that 18,485 vehicles were sold domestically in China in January 2026, while exports accounted for 50,644 units during the same period.
Tesla has also been extending financing programs in China as it pushes to strengthen domestic demand. The company recently extended its seven-year ultra-low-interest and five-year interest-free financing programs through March 31, marking the second extension of the promotion this year.
The financing initiative was first introduced on January 6 as a strategy aimed at offsetting higher ownership costs ahead of China’s planned 5% NEV purchase tax in 2026. The promotion was originally scheduled to expire at the end of January before being extended to February and then again through the end of the first quarter.
Tesla’s efforts come amid growing competition in China’s EV market. According to data compiled by CNEV Post, Tesla’s 2025 retail sales in China reached 625,698 vehicles, representing a 4.78% year-over-year decline. Part of that decline was linked to the Model Y changeover to its updated variant in early 2025, which temporarily reduced deliveries during the transition period.
News
Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
Tesla’s upcoming Model Y L has been spotted on transport trucks in Australia. Sightings of the six-seat extended wheelbase Model Y variant have been reported on social media platform X by members of the Australian Tesla community.
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
The sighting follows earlier observations by Tesla enthusiasts in Sydney, where a covered vehicle believed to be a Model Y L was spotted at a Supercharger.
The Sydney sighting drew attention after observers noted that the vehicle’s tare weight appeared to match the ADR approval listing for the Model Y L, suggesting it could indeed be the extended wheelbase variant of the electric SUV.
Tesla has previously confirmed that the Model Y L will launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2026. The confirmation was reported by techAU following a media release from Tesla Australia and New Zealand.
The Model Y L expands the existing Model Y lineup with seating for six passengers. The vehicle features a longer body compared with the standard Model Y in order to accommodate a spacious second and third row.
Tesla has opted for a 2-2-2 seating configuration instead of a traditional seven-seat layout for the Model Y L. The design includes two individual seats in the middle row to provide easier access to the third row and additional passenger space.
Tesla Australia and New Zealand has also stated that the Model Y L will be covered under the company’s updated warranty structure beginning in 2026.
Tesla has not yet announced pricing or official range figures for the Model Y L in Australia.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
X Money is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Elon Musk has stated that X Money, the digital payments system being developed for social media platform X, is expected to enter early public access next month.
The update was shared by Musk in a post on X. “𝕏 Money early public access will launch next month,” Musk wrote in his post.
As noted in a Reuters report, X Money is being developed as a digital payment service that’s directly integrated into the X platform.
The system is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Musk has previously discussed plans to introduce payments and financial services as part of X’s broader development.
Since acquiring the platform in 2022, Musk has discussed expanding X to include a range of services such as messaging, media, and financial tools.
Elon Musk has shared his goal of transforming X into an “everything app.” During a previous podcast interview with members of the Tesla community, Musk mused about turning X into something similar to China’s WeChat, which allows users to shop, pay, communicate, and perform a variety of other tasks.
“In China, you do everything in WeChat… it’s kickass… Outside of China, there’s nothing like it, people live on one app. My idea would be like how about if we just copy WeChat,” Musk joked at the time.
To prepare for the rollout of X Money, X has partnered with payment company Visa to support the development of payment services for the platform’s users. The move could allow X to tap into the growing demand for digital and in-app financial transactions as the company builds additional services around its existing user base.
Tesla China posts strong February wholesale growth at Gigafactory Shanghai
Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
