Chevrolet and General Motors have made major inroads in the United States’ largest market for electric cars: California. Last year, the Chevrolet Bolt EV became the top-selling electric car, surpassing the Tesla Model S.
Data from Inside EVs, published on Sunday, shows the Bolt EV tallied 13,487 sales in California alone in 2017. Meanwhile, the Model S recorded 11,813 sales. However, adding Model S and Model X sales would surpass the Bolt EV; Tesla sold 6,910 Model Xs.
Things could change in 2018. Tesla wants to begin ramping up Model 3 production this year, with a goal to build 2,500 vehicles per week by the end of Q1 2018. Then, it wants to further increase production to 5,000 Model 3s per week by the end of Q2 2018.
Tesla’s delays have caused many Model 3 reservers to back out and purchase a Bolt EV. Many California Chevy dealers saw an uptick in Bolt EV sales after Tesla announced its latest Model 3 production delay. Those who reserved the most affordable Model 3 won’t take delivery until 2019, per the Silicon Valley carmaker.
But, one other factor may make 2018 a wild ride for electric cars: federal tax credits. Tesla and General Motors will likely reach the 200,000 unit cap on the credits this year. Without the tax credits, consumers will pay full price for electric cars. The credit reimburses up to $7,500.
Comments
I live in Simi Valley, California and my local dealer tells me they are sold out and other dealers won’t trade because they are having supply issues as well. If GM built more, they are confident they could sell more.
Interesting news to read that Musk’s plans are backfiring. And not just for the loss of reservations, but that those same reservation owners are now buying the Chevy Bolt EV instead. The only good news is that he will have less reservations for Model 3 orders, and less pressure to build them.
As a California resident I can tell you these things are everywhere.
I read on another site that there will be a commercial version of the Bolt available soon, it will be sold as incomplete vehicle without a back seat and then converted to a small delivery vehicles by Knapheide(?) Truck Equipment and then put back in the pipeline at Orion. No driver confidence or convenience package available and the alloys get traded for steelies.
And here all along I was told for decades on automotive forums everywhere that Californians absolutely hate American cars; that they’d sooner sell their own children into slavery than own something from Detroit.
And yet the Bolt can’t stay on the lots long enough in California.