In a groundbreaking development, Tesla has surpassed Audi in global vehicle sales, delivering a total of 1.79 million cars in 2024, compared to Audi’s 1.67 million. This achievement signifies a major shift in the automotive industry, as Tesla now outperforms one of Germany’s most iconic luxury brands, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Audi experienced a 12% decline in sales last year, failing to make significant progress in key markets such as Europe and China. The company struggled with weak demand for its electric vehicles, including the Q8 e-tron, which led to an 8% decrease in EV deliveries to approximately 164,000 units. As a result, Audi has made the decision to close down its Brussels factory, where the Q8 e-tron is manufactured, due to low demand.
On the other hand, Tesla solidified its position as the leading seller of fully electric vehicles worldwide. Despite experiencing its first annual decline in deliveries in over a decade in 2024, Tesla managed to maintain its lead over Chinese competitor BYD. While BYD has hybrids that fall under the category of ‘New Energy Vehicles’, Tesla continues to dominate the market for fully electric vehicles.
Audi’s parent company, Volkswagen, along with other German automakers like Mercedes-Benz and BMW, are facing challenges with slowing demand for EVs as countries reduce subsidies and competition in China becomes more intense. In response to weaker sales, manufacturers such as Volkswagen have started to scale back production to align with market conditions.
Furthermore, Canada has recently ended its federal rebate program for electric vehicles due to funding constraints.
The fact that Tesla has surpassed a legacy automaker like Audi in annual vehicle sales is a significant milestone for the EV market. This achievement highlights Tesla’s continued dominance and innovation in the electric vehicle sector, setting a new standard for the industry as a whole.