Tesla saw a rebound in Australian sales in May, hitting their highest level in nearly a year despite declines in the U.S. and Europe. The EV maker reported 3,897 deliveries, largely driven by strong demand for its revamped Model Y compact SUV, which surged 122.5% year over year. In contrast, sales of the Model 3 dropped significantly.
According to the Australian Electric Vehicle Council, total Tesla deliveries in Australia rose 9.3% from last May but jumped over 675% compared to April, when sales had slumped to just 500 units—marking Tesla’s worst monthly performance of the year. However, year-to-date sales remain down 48.2% compared to the same period in 2024.
Liz Lee, associate director at Counterpoint Research, told CNBC that while Tesla’s Australian recovery is promising, global challenges persist. The company’s Q1 sales were down 13% year over year, she said, pointing to ongoing headwinds.
Tesla’s broader struggles have been exacerbated by increased competition and reputational concerns tied to CEO Elon Musk’s political activities. In Australia, reports of protests and vandalism over Musk’s affiliations weighed on Tesla’s sales earlier in the year.
While Tesla’s May U.S. sales fell 11% from 2024, the company posted unexpected gains in Norway and Turkey. Norwegian deliveries jumped 213%, while Turkey saw a record-breaking 1,545 sales last month.