Tesla sales leap 1,300% in Japan

A wave of orders for Tesla’s Model 3 has delivered a massive boost to sales of the electric marque in Japan.

The carmaker sold 588 units there in March 2021, which was 1,300 per cent higher than the 44 cars in the same month a year earlier.

Data from the Japan Automobile Importers Association shows this made Tesla one of Japan’s most popular foreign marques, behind Fiat on 739 vehicles and Land Rover with 689.

The demand for the Model 3 grew in March as a number of factors combined to reduce the price for customers.

Lower manufacturing and transportation costs of the vehicle, which is now being imported from Gigafactory Shanghai, has led to Tesla slashing prices.

At the same time, Japan’s subsidies for electric cars have increased as the government tries to get more consumers to buy a low-emissions vehicles.

The surge comes as Tesla set a new record for first-quarter deliveries after selling 184,800 units worldwide between January and March 2021.