Tesla Australia says it's focused on cars, not Elon Musk
Tesla's Australian division says its main focus right now is to get people behind the wheel of its cars, including the facelifted Tesla Model Y, amid persistent US reports about the electric vehicle (EV) company's controversial CEO Elon Musk and his involvement with the Trump administration.
While it's impossible to draw direct correlations between Mr Musk's political endeavours and the carmaker's sales performance, Tesla's local sales have undoubtedly been on a significant downward spiral over the past 12 months.
In April 2025, Tesla managed just 500 deliveries for the entire month, almost 76 per cent fewer EVs than it sold in the same month last year, placing it 23rd on the sales chart just ahead of Porsche, but behind other luxury brands like Land Rover and Audi.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Meantime, key rival BYD sold more than six times the number of vehicles last month (3207), over 127 per cent up on April 2024 and placing it 10th overall for the month.
Year to date, Australian Tesla sales are now almost 62 per cent down.
Asked about the potential impact of Mr Musk's high-profile activities in the US on local sales and perceptions of his company, Tesla Australia country director Thom Drew said he preferred to focus on Tesla's vehicles rather than its CEO's politics. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
'Externally, looking at any of these political factors, is going to have some kind of influence, depending on what people see in the media, so that would likely be having an impact on people engaging with us,' he told CarExpert at this week's Australian launch of the facelifted 2025 Tesla Model Y.
'We're trying to take this as an opportunity to remind the Australian public of our products and how great they are.'
The Model Y's midlife 'Juniper' facelift brings a raft of updates including revised suspension, tweaked interior equipment, increased range, and Cybertruck-inspired styling. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
The Model Y was unavailable for several months in the lead up to first deliveries of the facelifted mid-size electric SUV, heavily impacting the American brand's local sales given the model's status as its best-selling vehicle and Australia's favourite EV in 2024.
'Obviously [with] a new Model Y coming up, we're focusing on that, and then also our local business,' said Mr Drew.
'So far, the response has been amazing. We've only just started test drives of [the Model Y] within the past few weeks in Australia, and we've had record test drive numbers than we've had in our entire time in the country.
'[That's] partly why we've been trying to make sure people can see into Tesla Australia, and who we are as an established brand here, [to] help solidify why we still remain the number one EV brand in the country.'
MORE: Tesla revenue plunges as global sales slumpMORE: No love for Elon Musk? Tesla owners are ditching their cars at record ratesMORE: Tesla vandalism and fake ads highlight anti-Elon Musk sentiment
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Ineos may use Chery platform for smaller SUV
The Ineos Fusilier may actually come to life after all, but with a little help from Chinese automaker Chery. According to Autocar, Ineos has opened discussions with Chery about using the Chery's iCar battery-electric (EV) and range-extender electric vehicle (EREV) platform architecture for the stalled Fusilier project. Ineos unveiled the Fusilier concept in February 2024 with a view to putting it into production by 2027 as smaller companion to the Grenadier SUV and Quartermaster ute. The Fusilier concept had a skateboard platform designed for pure electric and EREV drivetrains. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert By July that year, though, the company beat a strategic retreat, delaying the car's launch indefinitely due to 'reluctant consumer uptake of EVs, and industry uncertainty around tariffs, timings and taxation'. Using an existing platform from another automaker will save Ineos both time and money. Once the Fusilier is on the market, it will help Ineos meet its CO2 emissions targets in the UK and Europe. At present Ineos sells some of its cars as commercial vehicles, as they have less stringent targets. Currently the iCar brand is only available in China, although the brand's first model, the 03, is available in some export markets under the Chery or Jaecoo marques. 2025 iCar V23 Credit: CarExpert The iCar V23 (above), which was unveiled at the end of 2024 and measures just 4.2m long, is available with a 100kW/180Nm single-motor drivetrain with either a 47.3kWh or 59.9kWh battery, or a 155kW/292Nm dual-motor system with an 81.8kWh battery. Chery has confirmed it will launch the iCar brand in Europe and Australia, although in these markets the name is being tweaked to iCaur in order to avoid a trademark conflict with Apple. Should this collaboration with Ineos come about, it will be Chery's second SUV partnership with a foreign brand. Through its relationship with JLR (Jaguar Land Rover), it will build and launch the Freelander brand in China before taking it across the world. The new Freelander models will replace local production of Jaguar and Land Rover models at the company's joint venture factory in Changshu. MORE: Everything Ineos
AU Financial Review
an hour ago
- AU Financial Review
Your new Lululemon gear could use recycled plastic from this start-up
Sydney-based recycling start-up Samsara Eco has inked a 10-year deal with leisurewear giant Lululemon to provide it with 20 per cent of its fibres for use across its collections. The agreement represents the most significant chapter in the emerging partnership between the Australian recycler and the Nasdaq-listed leggings specialist.
West Australian
an hour ago
- West Australian
Donald Trump says United States-China deal is ‘done', People's Republic to supply rare earths
US President Donald Trump says a deal with China is 'done', adding the People's Republic will supply 'magnets and any necessary rare earths' and the Chinese students can access US colleges. 'Our deal with China is done, subject to final approval with President Xi and me,' Mr Trump announced on Truth Social. 'Full magners, and any nexessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China. 'Likewise, we will provide China what was ageed to, including Chineses students using our colleges and universities (which has always been good with me!). MR Trump said the US would get 55 per cent tariffs, with China getting 10 per cent. 'Relationship is excellent.' In a follow up post, Mr Trump added: 'President Xi and I are going to work closely together to open up China to American trade.' 'This would be a great WIN for both countries!' After high-level talks between the two powerhouse countries in London, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told reporters the deal was almost set. 'We have reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus and the call between the two presidents,' he said. Mr Lutnick told CNBC that a one-on-one call between Mr Trump and China's President Xi Jinping had 'changed everything'. 'They are going to approve all applications for magnets from United States companies right away,' he said.
