Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) and its charismatic CEO Elon Musk have been the darlings of Wall Street for many months now, maintaining a high profile as the premier electric vehicle company in the world. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) introduced the Model S in the second half of 2012, so they are really still in the roll out phase for the $70,000 electric sedan. U.S. sales of Tesla Model S electric sedan came very close to a respectable 20,000 units in 2013, as international sales grew rapidly and accounted for more than 5000 additional sales last year, according to car blog GAS2.org.
Total Tesla Model S sales approaching 30,000
Global sales of Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s flagship Model S sedan are getting very close to 30,000, according to a blog post on GAS2.org. “Actual global sales through December of 2013 for the Tesla Model S are between 25,343 and 25,503, and calculating in estimated sales of between 2,200 and 2,500 in 2012, Tesla has sold just shy of 30,000 Model S sedans in total so far.”
The Model S still has a good way to go, however, to match the sales numbers of the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, which both sold more than 50,000 units in North America over the last 12 months. Elon Musk is on record saying that TSLA expects to eventually sell 500,000 units annually.
Norway and Switzerland strong European markets for Tesla
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) 2013 Model S sales were relatively strong all across Europe, topping 3,600 units for the electric sedans first year on the market. Norway and Switzerland were the two sales hot spots for the continent, with Germany being the laggard.
China sales looming
China is next on Elon Musk’s list. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has already announced they have several hundred Model S sedans pre-ordered through their Hong Kong dealership, and is in the process of building a huge Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) experience dealership in Beijing. Analysts say that tariffs and other fees will likely push the cost of a Model S to more than $150,000 in China, but most are still projecting robust sales for the sought-after vehicle once the dealership is operational.
