Tesla’s share in the California electric vehicle (EV) market slipped this year between January and September compared to 2021, reports Reuters.
According to new vehicle registration data from the California Energy Commission, Tesla held 73 percent of the EV market share in California between January and September, representing its lowest level since 2018.
In 2020, Tesla landed a 79 percent share, following up with a 75 percent share in the market in 2021; in other words a 2% drop year-over-year.
Tesla’s first factory was in Fremont, California, and the state is the largest for zero-emission vehicles including battery-electric, plugin hybrid and even hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Although Tesla sold more in the California market than it did during the same period last year due to record production, growing competition from companies like Hyundai Motor is offering more choice to consumers than ever before (that is if they are actually in stock).
“We are reaching a saturation point for Tesla market share in California,” said AutoPacific President Ed Kim. Tesla was number one in brand consideration, with 53% of potential EV buyers considering Tesla this year according to an AutoPacific study this year. Last year, 58% of EV buyers considered a Tesla.
The news comes just months after California approved plans to ban new gas car sales by 2035, while the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 have topped the state’s auto sales in recent months.
