Tesla's Model 3 Was The Worlds Best Selling EV In 2018

The Tesla Model 3 was the best-selling electric car in the world in 2018, according to data firm JATO Dynamics. JATO says the Silicon Valley automaker sold about 138,000 Model 3s, beating out contenders like the flagship EV of state-owned Chinese automaker BAIC (92,000) and the Nissan Leaf (85,000). In total, Tesla sold more EVs than any other automaker in 2018, JATO reports.

The news comes at the same time that Tesla is starting deliveries of the Model 3 in China, the largest market in the world for electric cars. Tesla also recently started delivering Model 3s in Europe for the first time ever. Adding those new markets for the Model 3 is supposed to help Tesla increase sales of the car by more than 100,000 in 2019, according to recent estimates from the company.

mini22 - 2/25/2019 1:25:42 PM

+7 Boost

God is it ugly! It looks like something out the move "Cars"

ColMosby - 2/25/2019 2:05:36 PM

+7 Boost

Of course that was the and now is now and Tesla is getting clobbered by several of the first few competitors. It should be noted that last year's "sales" were not actually a year's worth of sales, but 2 1/2 year's worth from the waiting list.

SanJoseDriver - 2/26/2019 3:42:03 AM

-3 Boost

Actually it was half a year's worth of sales since they couldn't ramp up production anywhere near demand for the first half of the year.

JeepBoston - 2/25/2019 3:45:05 PM

+5 Boost

Drove by a Tesla dealer in the Boston area today, over 75 new Model 3's unsold sitting on the lot. Also, a bunch of new model S sitting there.
Tesla sales are dropping.

Hauerg - 2/25/2019 3:48:25 PM

-4 Boost

There are no Tesla dealers.
And you know those were unsold because you drove by?

JeepBoston - 2/27/2019 2:15:33 PM

+1 Boost

@Hauerg - the next day I drove into the lot and looked at them. They have been there now for over a week, parked 3-4 deep and 12 across in some sections, not detailed in any manner. As soon as a tesla arrives at the stores, salesman are calling the client and pushing them to come in to get the car immediately, happened to people I know who bought the model 3. If they were sold they would not be sitting on a lot like that.

Hauerg - 2/25/2019 3:48:57 PM

-4 Boost

You have nothing to eat?

SanJoseDriver - 2/26/2019 3:43:20 AM

-4 Boost

LOL

countguy - 2/25/2019 4:30:10 PM

+2 Boost

When there is no competition then being #1 really isn't saying much. As the major auto makers start putting out their EV's Tesla will fade away.

SanJoseDriver - 2/26/2019 3:45:46 AM

-3 Boost

Tesla has 80% of the US EV market today, and they certainly aren't the only option. As Audi and MB are finding out, EVs are not that simple to ramp out.

SanJoseDriver - 2/26/2019 3:46:52 AM

-3 Boost

*ramp up... also iPace and Bolt sales have nosedived.

Foncool - 2/25/2019 4:49:08 PM

+6 Boost

Kind of like being the tallest midget.

OneOfOne - 2/26/2019 9:32:18 AM

+2 Boost

3 of the first 5 stories on tesla spies are about tesla. shocking, just shocking.

vdiv - 2/26/2019 6:34:49 PM

+2 Boost

Resistance is futile. Your technological... oh who am I kidding, just get used to it, it's not going away.

MrEE - 2/26/2019 6:17:04 PM

+3 Boost

So what happened to the claims that the Leaf was the worlds best selling EV?

SanJoseDriver - 2/27/2019 2:03:07 AM

+2 Boost

That's in total all-time sales, the Model 3 will get that title by the end of this year barring any surprises.