Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Tesla posted a sharp year-end rebound in China, with December shaping up to be Gigafactory Shanghai’s second-strongest month ever by wholesale volume. According to data released by the China Passenger Car Association and compiled by CnEVPost, Tesla China recorded wholesale sales of 97,171 vehicles in December, trailing only November 2022’s record of 100,291 units.
The December result represents a 3.63% increase year-over-year and a 12.08% jump from November’s 86,700 vehicles, marking Tesla China’s second consecutive month of annual growth. The figures include both local deliveries and exports from Giga Shanghai, though a breakdown between the two has not yet been released.
Retail sales were also strong. Tesla China sold roughly 94,000 vehicles during December, up about 13% compared to the same period last year. More detailed domestic sales data is expected later this month.
The late-year surge appears to be partly driven by Tesla pulling deliveries forward to help buyers take advantage of more favorable purchase tax policies before the end of the calendar year. The strategy helped Tesla finish 2025 on a high note, even as competition in China’s EV market remained fierce.
Despite December’s strong showing, Tesla China’s full-year wholesale sales still declined. Total wholesale volume for 2025 came in at 851,732 vehicles, down 7.08% year-over-year. Tesla has faced mounting pressure in China from aggressive pricing by domestic automakers and an increasingly crowded EV landscape, even as exports from Shanghai remained elevated.
That said, demand showed clear signs of life toward the end of Q4. November already delivered a solid rebound, and December became Tesla’s best month for Shanghai deliveries in more than three years. The China-exclusive Model Y L has also performed well locally since launch, with production reportedly sold out into February.
Globally, Tesla delivered 418,227 vehicles in Q4 2025, narrowly missing analyst expectations. With China showing renewed momentum to close out the year, attention now turns to how much of December’s strength came from exports versus domestic demand. Stay tuned.
