One of the main criticisms thrown at the Tesla Model 3 has been the brand’s inability to make them quick enough, with the level of build quality and/or quality control customers expect at that price. However, Tesla seems to have improved its production, as it’s not able to build more and build them with better quality. So much so that the Model 3 may have outsold all of BMW’s cars in August.
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If you include SUVs, BMW still sold a lot more vehicles than Tesla but the Model 3 isn’t an SUV so if you just compare its sales with all of BMW’s cars, the Tesla could have sold more. I must stress that it might have sold more than BMW’s cars because, well, no one knows for sure. Except for Tesla, of course.
Tesla being Tesla, it doesn’t release official sales figures for any of its cars because, you know, Musk. There are a few sites that report Tesla’s sales but they all have different figures. One site claims it sold 20,000 Model 3s in August, while some other sites claim around 17,000. Bloomberg is claiming that Tesla is making about 4,700 (18,800/month) Model 3s a week, which is probably the most reliable source of info. Either way, those are figures that are more than the 14,450 BMW cars sold in the U.S. in August.
Admittedly, BMW’s biggest seller, the 3 Series sedan, is not going to be selling as much these next few months because a new one is one its way. So a lot of customers will be waiting for the next-gen G20 3 Series before pulling the trigger.
Still, it’s impressive to see Tesla building more Model 3s. It’s not building them at a rate of a major production company and that’s encouraging to see. It’s like seeing an infant crawl for the first time. “Yay, Tesla!”
[Source: Autoblog]
Still, only BMW makes money… Quality over quantity.
Quality is not only about profits here. It’s also a about the car. One manufacturer makes overhyped pieces of junk, the other doesn’t.
True words! That’s what the Model3 really is: overrated garbage! I can’t understand that people paying the same price for that like for a 3er or C class🤦🏻♂️
I have a Tesla myself, wouldn’t call it junk, but definitely far behind BMW when it comes to quality, especially regarding the interior.
Despite the predictable Tesla hype (hysteria?), why are the sales of a BEV measured against ICE? We know most buyers of i3 are new to the brand, most Model 3 buyers have been on a wait list, so obviously not ICE customers. Also, are these actually new sales, or is Model 3 production finally delivering existing orders? Until 3 Series BEV reaches market, this seems as spurious as claiming Model S is best-selling luxury sedan – ignoring that it has NO BEV competitor, so actually best-seller in a monopoly market. Even comparing BEV to ICE, 3 Series is a full model range sold globally. NOT Model 3. Seems to be a lot of selective editing to claim victory in a non-existent race. Taking another vehicle’s name doesn’t make you a competitor, BEV is still only an ICE alternative, not a replacement.
Huh? Most of the people with Model 3 reservations are/were fossil drivers, and traded in fossil cars. Virtually everybody who owns an electric car at some point owned a fossil car. They could buy another fossil, or an electric. It’s a choice. Fossil cars compete with other fossil cars and also with electric cars.
But you’re right — it’s not a “race.” And nobody said electrics are a “replacement” for fossil cars (although for individual car buyers, they may be).
The Model S is NOT in a monopoly market; it competes primarily with large premium fossil sedans. People looking for a large premium sedan have lots of choices: S-Class, 7-Series, Panamera, Model S, etc. They may also be looking at other segments as well; car buyers are not so rigid as you suppose.
If they want a BEV S is their only choice, thus monopoly.
For a first generation car, it sure checked a lot of boxes. Just think what this vehicle will be like after several generations! How may generations has the 3 series experienced!
Since BMW created the segment? All of them.
Tesla is doomed y’all his on air pot smoking and SEC lawsuits will see to that. Expect Tesla to be a division of GM sooner than later.
Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen or BMW can buy Tesla anytime if they wanted to.
Yet they don’t. Nor Apple. What does that tell you? FCA have been seeking “partners” for years. No takers there, either.
may i ask. how big is fca compare to vw group, mercedes benz and bmw group?
focus2move.com has a chart, they put VW #1, FCA #8, Mercedes #11, #BMW 12.
GM only exist because Obama bailed them out (the old joke, it takes a Democrat to save GM & kill bin Laden). Buick only exists over Pontiac & Saturn because of China – maybe they can save Tesla?
Car and Driver’s take on the Model 3 Performance (track mode): https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-tesla-model-3-performance-track-mode
I had a BMW 328i xdrive and traded in for Tesla Model 3 dual motor. It is a day and night difference. Model 3 is faster, more efficient, more smooth as well as sporty. Acceleration even at higher speed is amazing. An electric drivetrain is at an entirely different level than an ICE. No comparison. Lot of saving on fuel and maintenance.
I am actually impressed with the interior design. It is very modern, functional and clean. I like it much better than 3 series. They definitely need to give more options in colors and textures, but calling it a bad quality is complete BS.