Tesla’s China EV Sales Decline Amid Rising Local Competition
Tesla's China-made electric vehicle sales dropped 9.9% year-over-year in October 2025, with 61,497 units sold. The Shanghai gigafactory's output plummeted 32.3% month-over-month, affecting both domestic sales and exports to key markets like Europe and India.
Chinese rivals NIO and XPeng outperformed Tesla dramatically, posting record October delivery growth of 93% and 76% respectively. Through September, Tesla's China sales totaled 438,000 vehicles - a 5% decline from 2024 levels.
The competitive landscape intensifies as China prepares to halve its EV purchase tax exemption in 2026, mirroring the U.S. federal credit elimination. Tesla's reversal from September's 2.8% growth suggests broader challenges beyond temporary market fluctuations.