Tesla Model 3 Crowned Best-Selling EV in America

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

Tesla has gotten off to a rough start with the Model 3. The electric vehicle, which is being heralded as the automaker's entry-level vehicle into the world of electric cars hasn't had an easy birth. From its onset, things didn't look too good for the Model 3, as Tesla started experiencing production problems with the sedan. Last summer, Tesla had an ambitious goal of building 5,000 Model 3 sedans by the end of June. Instead, the brand pushed that figure back by three months. 

Then, news of quality issues with the Model 3 appeared, specifically in regard to battery production and assembly. Despite these issues, the Model 3 has come out as a standout option for consumers looking to transition to an EV. And better yet, the automaker, in spite of its manufacturing woes, was able to hit record production figures. 

Tesla Model 3 Leads The Way In Sales

Things are looking up for the Model 3 and will only get better, as Bloomberg reports that the brand's latest and most-affordable offering has become the best-selling EV in the United States. 

After hearing about all of the issues Tesla has been having with the Model 3, seeing the words "best-selling" in the same sentence as "Model 3" may be confusing. But it's true. According to the Tesla's productions figures for the first quarter of 2018, the company delivered a total of 8,180 Model 3 sedans. That figure represents a period of over three months — January to March.

That figure is higher than what General Motors and Toyota were capable of doing. Bloomberg reports that GM shifted 4,375 units of the Bolt during the three-month span, while Toyota delivered 6,468 units of the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid. So Tesla didn't barely beat other manufacturers, it clobbered them. 

Tesla Still Has An Uphill Battle

That's good news for Tesla, but the automaker isn't out of hot water yet. If the brand wants to play with larger automakers, it will have to find a way to ramp up production and build quality. As stated earlier, Tesla wants to be able to produce 5,000 units of the Model 3 every week. After numerous setbacks, that figure has now been pushed back to the second quarter of 2018. The brand also has the lofty goal of producing over 10,000 units of the Model 3 per year by the end of 2018. 

Recent data reveals that Tesla isn't within spitting distance of that figure. Reportedly, Tesla hasn't even broken the 2,000 units per week mark. Clearly, Tesla's still in the "production hell" phase. 

If you're a glass half full kind of person, this is clearly a good problem for Telsa. The brand, which has been selling cars for less than a decade, has created a product that has a lot of consumers giddy with joy. It's a hot commodity at the moment, and if you're one of the lucky few to have one, then you're exactly that — lucky. While Tesla continues to work out its production and quality kinks, the Model 3 will continue to get better and become more popular, solidifying its role as the best-selling EV. 

via: Bloomberg

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods