Tesla sales increase 80% in Germany ahead of Berlin factory boost

Tesla sales have jumped by more than 80% in Germany in the first quarter of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020, according to new figures released by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (FMTA).

Germany is finally coming to the fore as a leader in the electromobility transition. Although it is still far behind Norway, now the global leader by share where more than half of car sales in March were all-electric, Germany EV sales are boosting the European market where almost 750,000 EVs have been sold in the past 12 months.

Much of Germany’s EV sales can be attributed to Volkswagen, whose new ID.3 electric hatch, e-Up! mini car and plug-in hybrid Golf (which is no longer being made) lead year-to-date sales at 10,000 units combined in February.

But Tesla – which will start making electric cars at its soon-to-be-completed Berlin factory in coming months – is not too far behind, having risen to number two in February and has put more than 6,000 new vehicles on the road by the end of March.

Tesla started exporting its “mass-market” Model 3 from California to Germany (and wider Europe) in early 2019, but more recently switched to importing the Model 3 from its Shanghai factory.

And it seems to be paying off given the jump in sales, and indicates perhaps that German drivers are happy with the build quality coming out of Shanghai even though they will soon be making Tesla cars in Berlin them themselves.

More importantly, the Berlin gigafactory will focus first on the Model Y electric crossover, which it plans to pump out using eight giant “Giga Press” casting machines at a rate of 500,000 units a year once it ramps up to full volume.

It is already available for order in Germany (unlike Australia) from €59,600 ($A92,900 converted), but Tesla does not register a sale until a vehicle is delivered.

This means that the impressive 80% jump from 2020 could jump even further as drivers who have already placed orders for a locally-made Tesla electric crossover SUV start receiving their vehicles.