Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s Model S has been rated the Best Car of 2013. Now the Model S has emerged as the top selling green car in Iceland in the last month of 2013. The car may be topping the charts in other countries as well, but Iceland is the first nation to reveal the electric car registrations for each month of 2013. Many of the most affluent people in Iceland already own a Model S.
Tesla rules this small market
Iceland is still a small market for electric vehicles, but its enthusiasm for the environment-friendly cars can be compared to Norway. Iceland witnessed only eight EV registrations in December, or 2.2% of total market share for the month. For the full year 2013, the country recorded 7,635 automobile sales. Of them, only 72 were electric vehicles, with 0.94% market share.
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s Model S was the best selling EV in December with five units. The Model S occupied the 20th spot in the list of highest selling passenger vehicles. In 2013, Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) delivered only eight sedans in Iceland despite receiving dozens of advance orders. For the full year, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (OTCMKTS:NSANY) (TYO:7201) Leaf led the EV sales with 29 units. Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (OTCMKTS:NSANY) (TYO:7201) sold only two units of Leaf in December. In 2013, Toyota Motor Corp (NYSE:TM) (TYO:7203)’s plug-in version of Prius and Mitsubishi i-MiEV each had 13 registrations, while Chevrolet Volt sold just four units.
Tesla realistic about overseas sales
Good overseas sales are a positive sign for Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), and another good sign is that the company has been realistic about it. In contrast, Fisker Automotive, which has gone bankrupt, had estimated to sell 60% of its vehicles in Europe, which never happened. According to the Motley Fool, Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s Model S outsold every other vehicle in Norway in September. The company had plans to deliver more than 1,000 vehicles to Norway by the end of 2013. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is also expanding its business in China, which should further boost the company’s sales.
Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) shares were down 1.97% to $147.54 at 10:05 AM EST.