Tesla claims top two spots in global EV sales with Model 3 and Model Y

Tesla claimed the top two positions in global electric vehicle sales in June with its Model 3 and Model Y, new figures reveal.

With a little more than 70,000 Model 3s and 36,000 Model Ys delivered in June according to figures compiled by José Pontes, it marks a record-making month for electric vehicles and Tesla in particular.

Global electric vehicle sales jumped by 150% compared to June, 2020, Pontes says, which means that 8.7% of the entire new auto market was pluggable electric vehicles (including all-electric and plug-in hybrids, amounting to 583,000 EVs.

Note, this figure does not including hybrids and “mild” hybrid cars. All in all, 20% of the entire auto market in June was electrified in some format, according to the figures published overnight by Cleantechnica.

While in year-to-date sales the Model Y is still giving way to the tiny Wuling Mini EV made by SAIC-GM in China, Pontes makes some notable observations.

One is that Model 3 deliveries have stabilised at around 120,000 units per quarter, suggesting that in major markets the electric sedan reached a ceiling of sorts, with Pontes pointing the finger at market saturation.

If this is true, whether this would be the case if there weren’t a multitude of markets now waiting for the launch of the Model Y – a roomier vehicle with more flexible interior space and practical rear hatch – is not clear, but it is likely.

In any case, figures shared by Tesla in its Q2 2021 earnings report suggest that demand for Tesla is not yet ready to subside.

The EV maker says that with Fremont and Shanghai combined it has the capacity to make more than 950,000 Model 3 and Model Ys.

While Model Y production commenced in Fremont in March 2020, Shanghai output is still ramping. Considering that Tesla in China has just overtaken Europe in terms of market share, and Berlin is not yet online, it is just the beginning.

And let’s not forget the potential of India’s market – if Tesla ever manages to get there. Local import duties of 100% currently in place mean the Model 3 would become too unaffordable for the average driver in the Indian market.

Pontes’ second observation is that with Wuling Mini EV sales also stabilising, SAIC can now start considering exporting the micro electric car. “That could be interesting,” Pontes notes.

This article has been updated to correct the fact that 8.7% EV market share includes all-electric and plug-in hybrids.