Tesla\u2019s Shanghai Plant Shipped 10.3% More Cars in October \u2014 but China Rivals Are Growing Faster

Shipments from Tesla\u2019s Shanghai plant rose in October, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association cited by Reuters. Deliveries of locally built Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, including exports, climbed 10.3% year over year in October to 67,829 units.

The October gain stands out against a weak year for Tesla in China. According to CPCA data cited by Electrek, Tesla\u2019s retail sales in China fell 11.9% year over year in the first nine months of 2026, to 381,088 vehicles, as local rivals took share with cheaper, newer line-ups.

Those rivals had a strong October of their own. BYD sold 490,168 new-energy vehicles in the month, up 11% from a year ago and its sixth straight month of sales growth, while Xiaomi delivered more than 50,000 vehicles in October \u2014 its highest monthly total this year \u2014 and XPeng also reported strong sales as the companies push to meet full-year targets in the final quarter.

The contrast frames Tesla\u2019s China problem: the Shanghai plant can still grow shipments, helped by exports, while domestic retail demand softens against competitors that refresh their models faster and price them lower. October\u2019s 10.3% rise is a welcome data point, but one month does not reverse nine months of decline.