2018 EV Sales: Tesla Dominates, Sales Increase Slightly From 2017

The California New Car Dealers Association released their California Green Vehicle Report with EV sales figures through June 2018. Tesla was the clear winner, with 12,674 Model 3 vehicles sold. In fact, Tesla sales of all models exceeded all other automakers in the top six combined. Ultimately, Tesla models are expected to constitute 65 percent of ZEV sales nationwide by the end of the year.

The overall sales trends are positive, too. Sales of zero-emission vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, made up 6.2 percent of new vehicle sales, compared to 4.5 percent during the same period last year. But gas-powered vehicles still made up 83 percent of all new vehicles sold in the first half of the year.

Tesla’s dominance may be somewhat short-lived though, which would be good for the overall market. As Reuters reported, a number of German automakers will soon unveil upscale electric vehicles, including the Mercedes-Benz launch this month of the EQC electric SUV, as well as BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi models due in 2020. Plus Jaguar will be releasing a new all-electric SUV this fall.

The data show how crucial Tesla has been to pushing the electric vehicle market. Otherwise, no other American automaker has yet to rival their sales performance. The company will face more competition in the coming years, but its market dominance and branding on luxury EVs will be hard to beat.

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