In your opinion, how many Teslas were sold between January and August 2024?

AAA Data, a specialist in automotive data, has compiled the number of Tesla sales in France for the first eight months of 2024.

Three of the four quarters of 2024 have already passed, providing an opportunity for an initial assessment of the electric vehicle sector. And this assessment is quite informative. First, we learn that French manufacturers are not so ridiculous, although, in relative terms, the sales figures remain “ridiculous”.

In the private electric vehicle sector, the Peugeot e-208 holds the top spot, far ahead of the Renault Megane E-Tech. With 15,283 sales, it is nearly 30% ahead of its diamond logo rival. In third place, we find the attractive but expensive Fiat 500e. Following that is the Tesla Model Y and another Renault, the aging Renault Twingo E-Tech, which benefits from the disappearance of the Dacia Spring.

Tesla, king of companies?

With 9,864 units of its Tesla Model Y sold to individuals between January 1 and August 31, 2024, the American manufacturer is operating at a rate of about 1,200 vehicles per month. In September alone, Tesla made an incredible breakthrough with no less than 4,591 units sold, nearly half of the previous eight months. This was thanks to the policy of huge discounts on this model, which had been losing momentum. However, with the price increase of this SUV by over €4,000 since October 1, 2024, it is uncertain whether this dynamic will be maintained.

It must be emphasized that the number of French households capable of affording a car costing nearly €40,000 is low in proportion, and the dominance of Peugeot, Renault, and Fiat illustrates this. Tesla still lacks a more accessible model to truly take off. The right price for the Tesla Model Y is therefore around €35,000 to €36,000, no more.

Another argument supporting this is Tesla’s performance in the company car sector registered to businesses. Here, executives are attracted by the image of modernity, and both Tesla models are leading the rankings. The Model Y found 4,635 buyers, while the Model 3 made a breakthrough with 3,704 units. In this case, the impact of the ecological bonus is less significant and affects consumers’ choices less.

In third place, we still find the Peugeot e-208, with 2,724 cars sold. Cumulatively, for individuals and businesses, the Sochalienne has sold 18,007 units in France over the first eight months of the year. In September, 1,420 e-208 were sold, bringing the total to 19,427 units.

At Tesla, the Model Y has attracted 14,499 customers in total, plus the 4,591 in September, making it 19,090 units, placing it in second place nationally. As for the Model 3, 758 units were sold in September 2024, but reliable data is scarce to assert an exact total for the year. Its production in China excludes it from the ecological bonus, leading to lower sales levels. Nevertheless, it is estimated that approximately 8,000 units were sold in the first nine months of 2024.

With over 26,000 cars sold already in 2024, Tesla can confidently target 35,000 units for the entire year, which would make it a serious player, but still very small. Renault, the top seller in France in 2023, was still ten times larger in terms of cars sold.