232,500 plug-in vehicle have been delivered in the first nine months of 2018, an increase of 63 % compared to the same period of 2017. 63 % were pure electric (BEV) and 37 % were plug-in hybrids, according to EV sales database and consultancy EV-Volumes.com.

The plug-in share of the total light vehicle market was 1.8 % to date, compared to 1.2 % in 2017. EV-Volumes expects the share to reach up to 3.5 % in December and 2.1 % for the complete 2018.

US sales in Q3 were all about the Tesla Model 3: During the first half of the year, it was still plagued by ramp-up problems and contributed with only 2000 to 6000 units per month. In Q3, it started to meet the sky-high expectations with clearly outstanding market performance. 54,300 units were delivered in Q3, to eagerly waiting US customers; weekly production was in the 4000 to 5000 range. With total plug-in category volumes of 110,500 units in Q3, The Model 3 stood for half of this volume and nearly the entire year-on-year increase in the sector. Growth was 107 % for the quarter.

Tesla is not just shaking up the plug-in vehicle sector. The Model 3 has become a very desirable alternative to well established competitors. A clear break-through and, deeming by the Tesla Q3 financial result, it can be done at a profit.

In August and September, the Model 3 was among the top-5 best-selling cars of all categories, including ICEs, with volumes approaching ubiquitous mid-size cars like Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. In the segment with similar size, performance and price (aka Entry Luxury or Mid-Luxury) the Model 3 stood for half of September sales. It sold more than BMW 3&4 Series, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4/A5, Acura TSX and all others combined. It can be added that the Model 3 has been the worlds best-selling plus-in for the last 4 months.