Tesla sales way down Q1. How will this affect MME?

[Gene Bank]

It was just announced that Tesla deliveries dropped significantly in Q1. As people move from the Tesla brand how much do you think it will help the MME in new sales and potentially in the used MME market? It has to be positive news for Ford but how much is the question.

No political comments just facts on the potential market change.

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[AtomicInternet]

I think the redesign of the Y caused purchase delays that reduced deliveries more than the political tantrums. Why buy an outgoing model when you can wait a few weeks and get the latest and greatest? This theory won't be proven until the Q2 delivery report of course, so just conjecture for now.

That said, I have to believe the MachE is due for a major redesign in the next few years and I think it will re-ignite sales. I know the Ford euro EV models are just VW rebrands, but having only two EV models isn't helping sales volume for north america (I don't count the e-transit, it's commercial)

The other elephant in the room is of course tariffs since the Mach E is built in Mexico. If Tesla is tariff exempt (because built in USA) and all other EVs get a tariff surcharge I can see that having a huge market adjustment. I also suspect the new GM Bolt (I believe will also be USA built) will land soon. On the other hand, if tariffs are removed entirely then we'll all soon be driving Chinese BYD EVs. Can't beat 50% government subsidized vehicles.

In the end I'm just excited EVs are legitimately taking off regardless of the brand. I'm old enough to remember the GM EV1 and how quickly that was killed off. Say what you like about Tesla, but they started this "EVs are cool (and acceptable)" trend that is still carrying the industry.

 

[MellowJohnny]

I think regardless of the politics, Tesla market share will continue to drop just simply from the increased choice of new models. I was not against Tesla in 2021 when I ordered my MY22 Mach-E, but simply didn't want what everyone else was driving. It's hard to correct for "politics" in the Q1 numbers, but to me a portion of the drop is simply due to increased choice.

So far the biggest benefactor seems to have been GM, not Ford.

 

[E90alex]

Ford has already announced Q1 2025 Mach-E sales were +21% YOY

 

[dan_meh]

I think regardless of the politics, Tesla market share will continue to drop just simply from the increased choice of new models. I was not against Tesla in 2021 when I ordered my MY22 Mach-E, but simply didn't want what everyone else was driving. It's hard to correct for "politics" in the Q1 numbers, but to me a portion of the drop is simply due to increased choice.

So far the biggest benefactor seems to have been GM, not Ford.

?This. The competition is catching up, not just in the metal but also in the branding, awareness, and infrastructure. If you’re a car person, it can be hard to remember that normal people - just a year ago - had a 1:1 mapping in their brain between “electric car” and Tesla.

I purchased my Mach e in July, and even then, just six months ago, I had people say to me, “I didn’t know ford made an electric car.” I suspect that the fall of the Tesla brand has opened the average person’s awareness to other brands especially when the story is something like “Ford up, Tesla down.”

My brother in law, in fact, had his brain mapped from electric car to Tesla and Rivian. He has had Audis, so I asked him, what about Audi? He was like, “oh yeah. I should go look at one.”

It’s not like he thought Audi was incapable of making an electric car, it just wasn’t his first thought. Tesla occupied such a big “electric car space” in his brain.

 

[Panzer948]

Wow. I am really surprised you all haven't put more emphasis on the politics because if anyone is watching the evening news they are getting bombarded with news of daily attacks on dealerships, charging stations, and even individuals. Which says nothing of the fact what the CEO is saying/doing which likely goes against much of his customer base. Now if an individual doesn't watch the news and keeps their head in the sand I guess it wouldn't impact them much but let's face it, most people that buy EVs are fairly intelligent people that are open to change and therefore somewhat paying attention to the news. For most on the fence about buying a Tesla or some other brand, this would definitely turn them off. For others it's a downright no as who wants to worry about getting personal property damaged or even attacked every time you took your Tesla out for a drive.

 

[AllenXS]

I recently Uber’d for a week in Lisbon. I went green, the first was a Tesla, then I had a range of European and the BYD.
Did see some Mach-E’s but not Uber.
not that many Tesla’s.

Here in British Columbia, the number of Mach-E’s is significant. For years ago I was excited to see another one or two in a week. Now, they’re like Teslas except a better colour range. And better looking.

 

[RickMachE]

Wow. I am really surprised you all haven't put more emphasis on the politics because if anyone is watching the evening news they are getting bombarded with news of daily attacks on dealerships, charging stations, and even individuals. Which says nothing of the fact what the CEO is saying/doing which likely goes against much of his customer base. Now if an individual doesn't watch the news and keeps their head in the sand I guess it wouldn't impact them much but let's face it, most people that buy EVs are fairly intelligent people that are open to change and therefore somewhat paying attention to the news. For most on the fence about buying a Tesla or some other brand, this would definitely turn them off. For others it's a downright no as who wants to worry about getting personal property damaged or even attacked every time you took your Tesla out for a drive.

Because, politics aren't allowed here.

 

[d_k_g]

Wow. I am really surprised you all haven't put more emphasis on the politics because if anyone is watching the evening news they are getting bombarded with news of daily attacks on dealerships, charging stations, and even individuals. Which says nothing of the fact what the CEO is saying/doing which likely goes against much of his customer base. Now if an individual doesn't watch the news and keeps their head in the sand I guess it wouldn't impact them much but let's face it, most people that buy EVs are fairly intelligent people that are open to change and therefore somewhat paying attention to the news. For most on the fence about buying a Tesla or some other brand, this would definitely turn them off. For others it's a downright no as who wants to worry about getting personal property damaged or even attacked every time you took your Tesla out for a drive.

Yes - exactly.

I bought my MME in July and never considered Tesla even then.

 

[Chuck]

Most Tesla owners bought one because they were virtue signaling. I don't believe MME purchasers are of the same cloth.

 

[zvez]

I think regardless of the politics, Tesla market share will continue to drop just simply from the increased choice of new models. I was not against Tesla in 2021 when I ordered my MY22 Mach-E, but simply didn't want what everyone else was driving. It's hard to correct for "politics" in the Q1 numbers, but to me a portion of the drop is simply due to increased choice.

So far the biggest benefactor seems to have been GM, not Ford.

and BYD will continue to outperform tesla in China

 

[stoopid]

Because, politics aren't allowed here.

When politics inserts itself into car purchases and the car market, it is at the very least an elephant in the room or at best fair game.

Tesla lost at least one sale when I got my MME in February 2025. Politics and the tarnished Tesla company image played a part, but were not the only factor.

 

[RickMachE]

When politics inserts itself into car purchases and the car market, it is at the very least an elephant in the room or at best fair game.

Tesla lost at least one sale when I got my MME in February 2025. Politics and the tarnished Tesla company image played a part, but were not the only factor.

Great.

But we don't discuss politics here.

 

[AllenXS]

Great.

But we don't discuss politics here.

They weren’t discussing politics, just about politics. And I’m discussing technicalities, not politics.
I just didn’t like the cookie cutter iPhone on wheels, especially not in white.

 

[RickMachE]

They weren’t discussing politics, just about politics. And I’m discussing technicalities, not politics.
I just didn’t like the cookie cutter iPhone on wheels, especially not in white.

One member wrote a whole bunch of political issues, wondering why we don't talk about them here. Because - politics.

I never liked Tesla's because of that same reason - cookie cutter. Lemmings, lets all get the same. And, FUGLY. And, Musk, before politics or waving.

I specifically bought our 2021 Mach-E, then the 2022 Lightning, because I want CHOICE, and I want multiple car companies to succeed with EVs so that we can not be lemmings.

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