Home / Business and Economy / Tesla Sales Rise: China Market Defies Slowdown
Tesla Sales Rise: China Market Defies Slowdown
4 Feb
Summary
- Tesla's January sales climbed for the third consecutive month.
- Overall China EV market faces slowing growth in early 2026.
- BYD reported a significant 30% drop in global sales for January.
In January 2026, Tesla's deliveries of its China-made Model 3 and Model Y vehicles saw a 9.3% year-over-year increase, marking the third consecutive month of gains. This rise occurred even as the wider Chinese electric vehicle market experienced a slowdown, with overall sales and exports estimated to grow by only 1% in January. This contrasts sharply with the 25% combined growth seen in 2025.
The sluggish domestic demand was partly attributed to consumers front-loading purchases at the end of the previous year. However, exports helped to offset weaker internal sales. Tesla's main competitor, BYD, reported a substantial 30% decrease in global sales for January. Several other automakers, including Geely and Seres, managed to achieve record sales and exports during the month.
