Tesla Model 3 pulls ahead of its German competition in California

Tesla’s Model S has been beating the competition in the large luxury sedan segment for some time. Will Model 3 accomplish the same feat? In California, it appears to be doing so already, as Electrek reports.

Above: In California, Tesla's Model 3 is pulling ahead of its direct competitors from Germany like the BMW 3-Series (Image: X Auto)

According to a new report from the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), Model 3 outsold the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class to become the best-selling car in the “near luxury” segment during the first quarter. 

Production of Tesla’s new EV was still limited during the first quarter, but deliveries were concentrated in California, and they amounted to more than enough for Tesla to take the top spot. According to the CNCDA, 3,723 Model 3 vehicles were registered between January and March, beating out the Mercedes C-Class, which sold 3,323 units.

Above: Tesla's Model 3 has become the best-selling car in the "near luxury" segment in California (Source: Electrek via CNCDA)

The report contains several other interesting points. Tesla is by far the fastest growing brand in the state: registrations grew by 58.6% in Q1, handily beating second-place Volvo, which grew by 31.5%. Also, sales of hybrid vehicles are steadily shrinking as sales of EVs and plug-in hybrids grow: 2013 was high tide for hybrids in California, as they took 7% of total vehicle sales. That share shrank to 4.0% in Q1 2018. Meanwhile, pure EVs’ share of the market grew from 1.6% in 2014 to 2.8% in Q1 2018.

It will be interesting to see if Model 3 maintains its lead as deliveries expand to the rest of North America. Tesla (as usual) is confident: in its Q1 2018 shareholders’ letter, the company said that Model 3 is “already on the cusp of becoming the best-selling mid-sized premium sedan in the US."

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Written by: Charles Morris; Source: Electrek via CNCDA