Tesla China-made EV sales fall 11.5% in March as competition rises

Sales Performance - Tesla's sales of China-made electric vehicles fell to 78,828 units in March, representing an 11.5% year-on-year decline, although this was a 157% increase compared to February's sales of 30,688 units [1] - In contrast, local competitor BYD sold 371,419 new energy vehicles in March, marking a 23% year-on-year increase, while Geely's sales rose 167% year-on-year to 119,696 vehicles [2] Competitive Landscape - Tesla is facing intensified competition from local players in China, which have shown growth in their sales figures, unlike Tesla [2] - The launch of a revamped Model Y in January was part of Tesla's strategy to counteract the growing competition [3] Stock Performance - Tesla's stock experienced its worst quarterly performance in the first three months of the year since 2022, with shares falling 3.04% in premarket trading on a specific Wednesday [3] Regulatory and Political Challenges - Concerns have arisen regarding the potential impact of President Trump's automotive tariffs on Tesla's suppliers in Mexico and China, with backlash against CEO Elon Musk's involvement in government efficiency initiatives [4] - Musk's comments about his involvement with DOGE have raised concerns that it could negatively affect Tesla's stock amid protests and boycotts against the company [4]