Tesla China April Sales Up Yearly, Down from March
Tesla’s wholesale vehicle sales in China increased significantly on a yearly basis in April 2026, though they experienced a decline compared to the previous month, according to recent data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
In April, Tesla China reported a wholesale volume of 79,478 vehicles, marking a 35.96 percent increase from April 2025. However, this figure represents a 7.23 percent decrease from March 2026 sales, which stood at 85,670 units. This monthly decline contrasts with the overall growth of China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market, where estimated passenger NEV wholesale volumes rose by 7 percent both year-on-year and month-on-month in April, totaling approximately 1.22 million units.
Despite the slowdown in April, Tesla maintained strong momentum in the first four months of 2026. Cumulatively from January to April, Tesla’s wholesale volume in China reached 292,876 vehicles, an increase of 26.67 percent from the same period last year. This growth follows a strong first quarter where wholesale deliveries totaled 213,398 units, a rise of 23.53 percent year-on-year.
Tesla’s reported wholesale volumes include vehicles sold in the domestic Chinese market as well as those exported internationally from its Shanghai manufacturing plant. Detailed breakdowns of April’s domestic deliveries and exports are expected to be published by the CPCA later in the month.
The broader Chinese electric vehicle industry showed mixed results in April. BYD recorded wholesale sales of 321,123 units, a 6.96 percent increase from March, though it still faced an overall year-on-year decline of 15.51 percent. Geely Auto’s total sales in April reached 235,164 units, marking a slight 0.45 percent year-on-year rise, driven mainly by record overseas exports which offset a 27.62 percent dip in domestic sales.
Nio saw a 22.83 percent increase year-over-year with 29,356 vehicles delivered in April but experienced a 17.27 percent drop from March. Xpeng delivered 31,011 vehicles, down 11.51 percent year-on-year but with a 13.12 percent increase from March, indicating a narrowing rate of decline. Li Auto posted modest year-on-year growth of 0.43 percent with 34,085 units delivered, but its monthly sales dropped 16.97 percent from March.
The April sales data reflect continuing competitive dynamics in China’s rapidly evolving EV market. Tesla’s performance, while robust annually, illustrates some volatility amid shifting market conditions and intensifying competition from domestic manufacturers.