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Tesla sales surge in Germany at the expense of VW during 2022

Credit: Photo Credit: @thirionremi / Twitter

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Tesla sales boomed in Germany during 2022, coming at the expense of the European hegemon, Volkswagen.

As Europe’s biggest car market, Germany has long been a stronghold for brands like Volkswagen, Mercedes, Audi, and BMW. However, this control has been challenged first by Ford and now by Tesla as the company took advantage of the lack of EV offerings in the country a few years ago. Even now, that initial investment is paying dividends, as according to the German KBA (car registration agency), Tesla rapidly grew sales throughout the year while Volkswagen’s sales faltered.

According to the KBA’s registration data for 2022, Tesla sales increased by 76.2% compared to 2021, totaling 69,963 vehicles. A surprising 17,501 of these vehicles were registered in December alone. In comparison, despite the auto market growing by 1.1% overall, Volkswagen registrations decreased by 1.8% to 480,967 units. However, it retained its position as the top automaker in the country by a wide margin.

Another winner in 2022 was EV sales. Along with the overall market growth, full EVs grew to represent 17.7% of the German car market, a sizable 32.2% increase compared to last year. While both hybrids and PHEVs also grew in popularity, alternative vehicle sales came at the expense of both gas and diesel vehicles which declined in sales by 32.6% and 11%, respectively.

In 2022, the top automakers in Germany, following Volkswagen, were Mercedes which grew sales by 8.3% to 243,999 vehicles, Audi which grew by 17.3% to 213,410 vehicles, and BMW, which saw sales constrict by 5.7% to 209,722 vehicles.

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Other automakers with substantial EV offerings also saw EV sales grow considerably. Polestar unsurprisingly saw a huge percentage growth in sales, 166.4% to 7,008 units in 2022, while Dacia and DS also saw considerable sales growth, 49.7%, and 91.2%, respectively.

Sadly, 2022 wasn’t kind to every automaker in Germany. Brands like Jaguar (-25%), Renault (-24.6%), and Volvo (-16.1%) saw substantial contractions in vehicle sales throughout the year.

The coming year will undoubtedly be a new turning point for many of these brands as they finally begin to shift their production focus. As Tesla continues to expand its output at its new Giga Berlin facility, many anticipate the company to continue to make sizable gains in the German market. And as long as legacy automakers lag in product offerings or EV availability, Tesla will benefit.

What do you think of the article? Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns? Shoot me an email at william@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @WilliamWritin. If you have news tips, email us at tips@teslarati.com!

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Will is an auto enthusiast, a gear head, and an EV enthusiast above all. From racing, to industry data, to the most advanced EV tech on earth, he now covers it at Teslarati.

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Tesla Model Y L sales have been incredible since launch: report

Tesla China’s sales this third quarter could see a notable improvement.

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Credit: Tesla China

A recent report from China has suggested that the Tesla Model Y L has been seeing an impressive volume of orders since it was launched last month.

Amidst the Model Y L’s rollout, Tesla China’s sales this third quarter could see a notable improvement.

Model Y L orders

Citing information from a salesperson from a Tesla store in Beijing, media outlet Cailianshe stated that the Model Y L has been resonating well with consumers, particularly bigger families that need more space for their children. The salesperson stated that since the vehicle’s unveiling in China, the Model Y L has garnered 120,000 orders, and almost 10,000 new orders daily.

“(The Model Y L) is selling very well. Since its launch, 120,000 orders have been received, with nearly 10,000 orders placed every day. The first batch of customers began receiving deliveries in the past two days,” the Tesla representative noted.

More momentum

China is the world’s largest electric vehicle market, and it is also the most unforgiving and competitive. While the standard Model Y consistently performed well in the premium crossover SUV segment, it was high time for Tesla China to offer a larger vehicle for domestic consumers. There are quite a lot of customers, after all, who need more space than what the standard Model Y could offer.

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The Model Y L’s spacious interior seems to be well appreciated by consumers, with the Tesla Beijing salesperson noting that the vehicle’s excellent rear seats have been a notable selling point. “Although the Model YL is a bit more expensive, it has more space and a more flexible rear seat, making it perfect for families with children,” the representative added.

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Tesla adjusts Robotaxi safety monitor strategy in Austin with new service area

The positioning of the driver, as well as the driver’s hands being closer to the steering wheel, is more similar to what Tesla is doing in the Bay Area Robotaxi program than it is to what it has done in Austin.

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Credit: @AdanGuajardo/X

Tesla has adjusted its Robotaxi safety monitor strategy in Austin after it expanded its service area in the city last week for the third time.

Tesla has been operating its Robotaxi platform in Austin since June 22. The vehicles have been operated without a driver, but Tesla has placed safety monitors in the passenger’s seat as a precaution.

The safety monitors are responsible for performing any necessary interventions and maintaining a safe and comfortable cabin for riders as they experience Tesla’s first venture into the driverless ride-sharing space.

Last week, Tesla expanded its service area in Austin for the third time, expanding it from about 90 square miles to 170 square miles. The expansion included new territory, including the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas, and several freeways.

Tesla Robotaxi geofence expansion enters Plaid Mode and includes a surprise

The freeway is an area that is uncharted territory for the Tesla Robotaxi program, and this fact alone encouraged Tesla to switch up its safety monitor positioning for the time being.

For now, they will be riding in the driver’s seat when routes require freeway travel:

The positioning of the driver, as well as the driver’s hands being closer to the steering wheel, is more similar to what Tesla is doing in the Bay Area Robotaxi program than it is to what it has done in Austin.

This is sure to draw criticism from skeptics, but it is simply a step to keep things controlled and safe while the first Robotaxi drives take passengers on the highway with this version of the Full Self-Driving software.

This FSD version differs from the one that customers have in their own vehicles, but CEO Elon Musk has indicated something big is coming soon. FSD v14 is coming to vehicles in the near future, and Musk has said its performance is pretty incredible.

Tesla’s Elon Musk shares optimistic teaser about FSD V14: “Feels sentient”

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Tesla has best month ever in Turkey with drastic spike in sales

Tesla managed to sell 8,730 Model Y vehicles in Turkey, outpacing almost every competitor by a substantial margin. Only one brand sold better than Tesla in August in Turkey, and it was Renault.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla had its best monthly performance ever in Turkey in August, thanks to a drastic spike in sales.

Tesla saw an 86 percent bump in sales of the new Model Y in Turkey in August compared to July, dominating the market.

The performance was one of Tesla’s best in the market, and the company’s sales for the month accounted for half of all EV sales in Turkey for August, as it dominated and led BYD, which was the second-best-selling brand with just 1,639 units sold.

Tesla managed to sell 8,730 Model Y vehicles in Turkey, outpacing almost every competitor by a substantial margin. Only one brand sold better than Tesla in August in Turkey, and it was Renault.

Electric vehicles are, in some ways, more desirable than their gas counterparts in Turkey for several reasons. Most of the reasoning is financial.

First, EVs are subject to a lower Special Consumption Tax in Turkey. EVs can range from 25 percent to up to 170 percent, but this is less than the 70 to 220 percent rate that gas-powered vehicles can face. The tax is dependent on engine size.

Elon Musk courted to build a Tesla factory in Turkey

Additionally, EVs are exempt from the annual Motor Vehicle Tax for the first ten years, providing consumers with a long-term ownership advantage. There are also credits that can amount to $30,000 in breaks, which makes them more accessible and brings down the cost of ownership.

Let’s not forget the other advantages that are felt regardless of country: cheaper fuel costs, reduced maintenance, and improved performance.

The base Model Y is the only configuration available in Turkey currently.

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