The reception to the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona has been, well, less than enthusiastic. Critics have pointed out that it’s too heavy, too bulky, and, frankly, feels somewhat half-baked. To top it off, it doesn’t set your pulse racing the way the classic V8-powered Challenger did. Things have gotten so rough that Dodge has decided to pull the plug on the base Daytona R/T for the 2026 model year, leaving only the Scat Pack as the remaining option.

Read: You Aren’t Buying It, So Dodge Is Killing The Electric Charger Daytona R/T (Update)

So, how does the Charger Daytona Scat Pack stack up against the competition? Edmunds recently put it head-to-head with one of the best value-for-money electric performance cars around right now, the Tesla Model 3 Performance, in their U-Drag race.

Edmunds’ U-Drag Race pits two cars against each other in a straight-up test of acceleration and handling, with real-world drag racing and tight cornering on display. It’s a test of how these cars actually perform when pushed to their limits.

Price Gap: More Than Just a Numbers Game

Let’s talk numbers for a moment. The Tesla comes in at a much lower price, $56,630 with destination charges included, while the Charger Daytona Scat Pack starts at $70,190 with no options. Add in a few optional features, and that gap widens to nearly $28,000. Both cars qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit. But let’s not get distracted by the price just yet; it’s time to talk performance.

Tesla’s Clear Edge in Acceleration

Accelerating away from the line, the Model 3 Performance has the clear advantage. Tesla says its twin electric motors combine to produce 510 hp and 554 lb-ft (751 Nm), whereas Dodge says the Charger Scat Pack is good for 670 hp and 627 lb-ft (850 Nm). On paper, it’s a tight match. The more powerful Dodge claims a 0-60 time of 3.3 seconds, while Tesla states the Model 3 Performance hits 60 mph with a rollout in just 2.9 seconds.

In reality, not only does the Tesla easily pull away in both races, but even as the speeds exceed 60 mph, it continues to stretch ahead, arriving at the braking point well ahead of the Charger. In the first race, the driver of the Dodge was able to close the distance under braking, but the Model 3 handles better and performs a tighter and quicker U-turn, thanks in part to its more neutral handling, the reviewers note.

During its tests, Edmunds recorded a best 0-60 mph time in the Tesla of 3.1 seconds and 3.7 seconds for the Dodge. The Model 3 then stormed down the quarter mile in 11.3 seconds at 122.1 mph (196.4 km/h), compared to the 12.0 seconds of the Dodge at 118.7 mph (191.0 km/h). Interestingly, the Charger had the advantage in lateral grip, pulling a peak of 1.19G compared to the Tesla’s 1.13G. But, that wasn’t enough to make up for its slower acceleration.

Tesla’s massive factory in Shanghai, China, has the capacity to build roughly 1 million vehicles every year. However, it could fall quite short of that number this year based on disappointing sales figures of its Chinese-made models in April, which slipped 25.8% from the month prior.

The China Passenger Car Association revealed that a total of 58,459 Tesla Model 3s and Model Ys built in China were sold last month. Importantly, this figure isn’t a reflection of the total number of vehicles that Tesla sold in China alone, but also includes other markets where it sells Shanghai-built vehicles, including Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Read: Tesla Sales Crash Over 80% In Sweden And That’s Just The Beginning

This is just the latest episode of Tesla’s sales drop saga in recent days. In April, its sales collapsed in key European markets like Spain, Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the UK. Its sales have also tanked in Australia, where, not too long ago, it was the EV leader. In April, seven other EV models from Chinese and Korean brands outsold the Tesla Model Y and Tesla Model 3.

Rivals Are Closing In

Many factors at play can help to explain why Tesla sales continue to fall. Obviously, negative public sentiment about chief executive Elon Musk is one of them, particularly due to his meddling in politics, not just in the US but around the world as well. Additionally, Tesla has a relatively limited and aging line-up of EVs compared to some of its competitors, with the Model 3 and Model Y being the serious volume sellers.

Rivals are also quickly gaining ground on the American brand. In April, Nio’s sales grew 53% from a year ago, with 23,900 vehicles sold. Additionally, Xpeng recorded its second-best month ever, securing 35,045 sales. Xiaomi also managed to deliver more than 28,000 vehicles in April while Li Auto’s sales rose 32% to 33,939.

If you’re in the market for a used car, you’ll generally find the best deal on the private market, but that route isn’t for everyone. Many people prefer the convenience of buying through a dealer or directly from the automaker. For those looking to minimize the stress of buying a used car, Tesla’s used inventory might seem like an attractive option, though it’s not without its issues.

Read: Used EV Prices Plummet 32% As Tesla Price Cuts Impact Industry

The main drawback? You won’t even see the car until you’ve paid a non-refundable $500 deposit, plus anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars in transport fees. And by “see the car,” we mean no photos of the actual vehicle – nothing. Just trust the process, apparently.

Yes, we know Tesla isn’t viewed in the best light at the moment, but that doesn’t change the fact that it continues to build some of the finest EVs on the market. It also has some reasonably priced used examples it’s looking to offload, and plenty of them come with very generous warranties.

Five of the most tempting we’ve come across include three first-gen Model Ys and two first-gen Model 3s. The cheapest of the bunch is a 2020 Model 3 Standard Range Plus Rear-Wheel Drive with an asking price of $19,000. While the car has been driven 62,092 miles (99,927 km), a look through AutoTrader shows that similar Model 3s with around the same mileage generally have asking prices between $18,000 and $22,000, so this example is reasonably well-priced.

Perhaps of most interest to a potential buyer is that it will include a 1-year / 10,000-mile limited warranty from Tesla itself. Additionally, the balance of the original battery and drive unit warranty is fully transferable and lasts until September 2028 or 160,000 miles. Several used Model 3s and Ys have also been advertised with an additional basic vehicle limited warranty that extends until up to 2026 with 50,000 or even 80,000 miles.

Another 2021 Model 3 Standard Range Plus Rear-Wheel Drive has been listed for $19,800, but it has a battery and drive unit warranty lasting until October 2029 / 160,000 miles. However, the listing notes it is ‘repaired,’ without specifying what repairs have been made to it.

The three Model Ys in Tesla’s used inventory have also been listed as repaired vehicles. They all include the 1-year / 10,000-mile limited warranty and have battery and drive unit warranties that extend until August 2028 and December 2028.

It is no secret that car values have been riding a rollercoaster lately, but some models have taken a particularly rough plunge. In the past year alone, a surprising number of popular vehicles have shed thousands of dollars in value, offering a clear look at changing market dynamics.

Read: This Car Loses 73% Of Its Value After Just Five Years

Four Tesla models are among the top 20 used cars in the United States that depreciated the most over the past 12 months. However, Tesla is hardly alone in this honor, as several other mainstream and premium brands, including Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Hyundai, Lincoln, and Genesis, have also seen significant price drops.

The team from iSeeCars recently analyzed the prices of 1.4 million used vehicles over the past year to determine which ones have been hit the hardest. At the top of the list sits the Tesla Model S, which depreciated by an average of 17.2 percent year-over-year, representing a fall of $9,944. As of March 2025, the average listing price for a Model S was $47,931. This, perhaps, is not much of a shock considering the electric sedan has been around for 13 years and Tesla has faced its share of public relations headaches in the last few months, adding to its woes.

A Closer Look at the Biggest Losers

Trailing just behind the Model S is the Porsche Taycan, which dropped by an average of $13,422 over the past year, or about 15.1 percent. Meanwhile, the Ford Explorer Hybrid saw its average price fall by 14.1 percent to $31,228, and the BMW 5-Series Hybrid was not far behind, dropping 13.9 percent to $34,375.

The second Tesla to appear on the list is the Model Y. The study from iSeeCars shows that prices of it have fallen by an average of 13.1% to $30,611. This places it two positions ahead of the Model 3 in eighth, with prices dropping by 10.9% to $26,084. In 17th position was the Model X, with reported average price falls of 7.3% to $55,990.

Used Cars With The Largest Price Drops

Other notable entries on the list include the Maserati Levante, down 11.5 percent, the Jeep Gladiator (-10.7 percent), the Kia Niro EV (-9.6 percent), the Volvo S90 (-9.2 percent) and the Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, whose price declined by 7.3 percent.

Worst Performing Brands

Tesla was named the brand with the steepest year-over-year declines in used car pricing. Across its lineup, its models lost an average of 10.1 percent in value over the past year, which translates to $3,541 on average. Chrysler followed closely behind, with an 8.9 percent drop, while Maserati, Genesis, Dodge, Buick, and Chevrolet also posted noticeable losses.

“In both the new and used car markets, Tesla prices have been dropping for over two years,” iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer said. “Price cuts on new Teslas immediately impacted used Teslas, driving their prices down at a rapid rate. The new car price cuts were driven by Tesla’s desire to maintain sales growth, but that strategy stopped working last year when the automaker saw its first decline in annual sales.”

Brands With The Largest Used Car Price Drops

Tesla is rolling out a pair of what it hopes will be high-impact incentives. In an effort to drive sales before the end of Q2, it’s offering 0% APR financing on Model 3 and the return of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) transfers. Both offers are appealing on paper, but like most things Tesla, there are some strings attached.

The headliner here is the 0% APR deal, which is only available on the Model 3. Not the Model Y, not the S, not the X, just the entry-level sedan. Qualifying depends on options and tax incentives, but it appears to be available with $0 down in some states.

Read: Tesla Quietly Launches Robotaxi Rideshare App For Employees

It’s also capped at 60 months. That’s about $6,000 down (over the loan term) on the cheapest rear-wheel-drive Model 3, and you’ll also need top-tier credit to lock it in. Still, it’s a rare move in today’s high-interest environment, and one that could tip the scales for shoppers on the fence.

Also back, for a limited time: FSD transfers. If you previously bought Tesla’s Full Self-Driving beta package for anywhere from $7,500 to $12,000 and are thinking about upgrading to a new vehicle, you can bring that feature with you, no need to repurchase. There’s no word on when the deal will end, but we expect it won’t live into the third quarter, so interested parties will want to move sooner rather than later.

0% APR available for financing (60 months, US only) https://t.co/eKuwpC1UKI

— Tesla North America (@tesla_na) April 25, 2025

These moves, of course, come at a time when Tesla is navigating a tougher sales climate. Competition is getting better, opposition is getting fiercer, and tariffs could drive prices up more, too. Obviously, Tesla wants to clear inventory and keep customers inside the family with these deals.

While these two deals are good for those interested, they’re not the only ones we’ve seen in recent months. The new Model Y is available in China with 0% APR, and the old Model Y is the subject of massive discounts too. Even the opinion-splitting slab-sided Cybertruck is available for thousands off of MSRP right now. Clearly, Tesla knows it needs to move metal, and it’s doing all it can to achieve that goal.

Vox Populi, Vox Dei … FSD Transfer is back

All countries (in NA), all S3XY + @cybertruck (excl Foundation Series & Launch Series)

— Tesla North America (@tesla_na) April 25, 2025

After a lackluster first quarter, where Tesla’s global sales took a nosedive, the EV giant has now reported its earnings for the same period. And, unsurprisingly, the results aren’t impressive. Revenue fell short of where it was expected to be by analysts, not just because of sluggish sales, but also due to uncertainty across industries and challenges in global supply chains.

But not everything is doom and gloom for Tesla, there’s some good news tucked in there, too. The company insists it’s on the cusp of launching more affordable models.

More: VW Finally Beats Tesla In EV Sales Across Europe

Let’s start with the figures. In Q1, Tesla’s total revenue fell to $19.3 billion, a 9.4% decline from $21.3 billion in Q1 2024. When compared to Q2, Q3, and Q4 of last year, the drop is even more significant, with revenue sitting at $25.5 billion, $25.1 billion, and $25.7 billion, respectively. Even worse was Tesla’s automotive revenue, which dropped from $17.3 billion in Q1 2024 to $13.9 billion this quarter, a 19.6% decline, and peaked at $20 billion in Q3 2024, a 30.5% decrease from that high.

Declining revenue isn’t the only thing that could concern shareholders of the EV brand.T otal income plummeted by 71%, dropping to $409 million, down from $1.39 billion in Q1 2024 and $2.1 billion in Q4 2024.

Why Did This Happen?

Tesla has blamed its decline in revenue on the obvious drop-off in deliveries during the first quarter. As we reported earlier this month, Tesla delivered 336,681 vehicles, down 13 percent from the year prior. It says deliveries fell in part because it was updating its four factories to start building the new Model Y. Tesla also says average vehicle selling prices dropped last quarter.

“Uncertainty in the automotive and energy markets continues to increase as rapidly evolving trade policy adversely impacts the global supply chain and cost structure of Tesla and our peers,” Tesla said. “This dynamic, along with changing political sentiment, could have a meaningful impact on demand for our products in the near-term. We remain committed to expanding our business model to include delivering autonomous robots across multiple form factors and use cases – powered by our real-world AI expertise – to our customers and for use in our factories, as we navigate these headwinds.”

New, More Affordable Models Are Coming

Falling revenue and deliveries don’t make for pretty reading, but Tesla does have some interesting things around the corner. New production vehicles, including more affordable models, will start in the first half of 2025, echoing a statement Tesla made in January and contrary to recent reports of these new models being delayed.

Read: Tesla Reportedly Delays Cheaper Smaller Model Y, Plans Stripped-Down Model 3

Details about these affordable versions are limited, with some suggesting they’ll be stripped down versions of the Model 3 and Model Y. Tesla says they will “utilize aspects of the next generation platform as well as aspects of our current platforms and will be produced on the same manufacturing lines as our current vehicle lineup.”

Elsewhere, Tesla announced that production of the Cybercab is scheduled to begin in 2026. The company also shared that the next-generation Roadster has moved from the “development” phase to “design development,” though it has yet to provide any details on when it will actually launch. Just a reminder: it’s been 7.5 years since the Roadster was first revealed.

Musk Winding Down DOGE Work

Finally, in news that may actually make some shareholders breathe a sigh of relief, Elon Musk will start scaling back his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Starting next month, Musk will devote more of his attention to Tesla, where he’s needed most. Perhaps this will bring more stability, though, knowing Musk, expect a few distractions along the way.

The EV market in Europe is on a strong upward trajectory, with March 2025 marking the second-best month on record for registrations, contributing to the strongest quarter ever for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Despite this impressive growth, however, Tesla’s updated Model Y “Juniper” couldn’t quite reverse the brand’s ongoing sales decline.

In March, BEV sales across Europe reached 240,891 units, marking a 23% year-over-year increase and capturing an impressive 17% market share, roughly one in five new vehicles sold. While this figure just misses the all-time high of 275,108 units set in December 2022, it still played a key role in making Q1 2025 the strongest quarter for BEV sales in European history.

More: Tesla Delays Cheaper Smaller Model Y, Plans Stripped-Down Model 3

According to data from JATO Dynamics, which includes 28 European markets, Tesla was the top-selling BEV brand in March 2025, despite experiencing a 30% drop compared to March 2024. However, this was an improvement compared to the sharper declines seen in January (-47%) and February (-44%), which, for Tesla, is at least a small win.

VW Finally Beats Tesla

This downward trend left Tesla in second place for BEV sales in Q1 2025, with 53,237 registrations (-38%), trailing behind VW, which saw a remarkable 157% increase with 65,679 units sold. Even BMW is now closing in on Tesla, recording a 21% increase over the same quarter last year with 46,557 sales in Q1 2025. The top 5 spots are rounded out by Audi, with 34,739 units sold (an impressive 51% growth), and Renault, which posted 31,880 deliveries, an even more impressive 89% increase.

When it comes to individual electric models, Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3 dominated the top spots in Europe for Q1 2025, with 29,770 (-49%) and 23,044 (-14%) registrations, respectively. Interestingly, the much-hyped launch of the heavily updated Model Y Juniper didn’t quite deliver the expected sales spike. In its first full month of sales in March 2025, it recorded 15,164 registrations, a 43% drop compared to the previous year.

More: Tesla’s 15% Sales Crash In California Could Signal A Bigger EV Crisis

VW made a strong showing, with three of its models in the BEV top 10 chart for Q1 2025: the ID.4 (3rd), ID.7 (4th), and ID.3 (6th). Other noteworthy entries included the Kia EV3 (5th), the Renault 5 E-Tech (8th), and the Citroen e-C3 (10th), all of which are new additions to the list.

In the U.S. market, EV sales reached 296,227 units (+11.4%) in Q1 2025, with Tesla commanding a significant 43.5% share (128,100 units), despite a slight -8.6% dip in sales compared to the same period last year.

Overall Sales Show Modest Growth in Europe

Back in Europe, regardless of powertrain type, a total of 1,423,340 vehicles were registered in March 2025, marking a 3.2% increase. This brought the Q1 total to 3,383,986 units, a nearly flat -0.02% change. The Peugeot 208 topped the sales charts in March, while the Dacia Sandero held onto its lead in the Q1 rankings.

In terms of sales declines, Tesla (-38%) wasn’t the only brand facing challenges. Other notable drops in Q1 included Maserati (-39%), Mitsubishi (-43%), Smart (-65%), Lancia (-73%), Abarth (-75%), and Jaguar (-82%).

What a difference a year makes. Rewind the clock to early 2024 and Tesla’s European arm was basking in the glory of becoming the best-selling electric brand in the region for the whole of 2023, and the first company to put an EV – the Model Y – on top of the the overall sales chart.

Now, fresh sales data from 28 key markets, including the EU, the UK, Norway, and Switzerland, shows that not only are Tesla’s sales down, but the American EV brand is also being collectively outperformed by Chinese-owned automakers.

Related: Tesla’s European Sales Have Collapsed, Down 45% As EV Market Surges 31%

Figures from Jato Dynamics reveal Tesla sold 15,700 cars in February 2025, down from 28,100 a year earlier, a drop of 44 percent against an EV market that was up by 26 percent to 164,100 units. Chinese-owned brands clocked up 19,800 sales this February, throwing serious shade in Tesla’s direction and leaving us in no doubt that China is making serious inroads into the European car market. And it’s only just started.

Tesla’s Market Share Takes a Hit

Tesla’s poor performance cut its market share to 9.6 percent, its worst February showing for five years, and the automaker’s year-to-date market share is down from 18.4 percent to 7.7 percent compared with 2024’s numbers. One partial explanation for that is the arrival of the facelifted Model Y ‘Juniper,’ which was revealed in January of this year, but wasn’t immediately available in Europe. It’s only natural that buyers would want to wait for the new-look SUV.

Model Y sales fell 56 percent to 8,800 units, while Model 3 sales fell by a less extreme (but still worrying) 14 percent to 6,800 units, which Jato says indicates Tesla’s overall slide is less to do with anti-Elon Musk sentiment than the imminent arrival of the the new Y.

EV Sales by Brand, Feb 25

VW, Chinese Brands, and the New Wave

Whether the new model can fully reverse the slide remains to be seen, but we doubt it. The Juniper changes aren’t that comprehensive and Chinese brands (and legacy Western ones) are only increasing their attack on Tesla. BYD’s sales grew 94 percent to 4,436, Polestar was up 84 percent to 2,405, and newcomer XPeng logged 1,034 sales, representing an increase of 259 percent from February 2024.

The best-performing brand in terms of EV sales, however, was VW, whose registrations boomed 180 percent to 19,600. The German brand’s ID.4 was the third-best-selling EV behind the Model 3 and Model Y, and VW,’s ID.7 and ID.3 were in fifth and sixth spot, separated from the ID.4 by Renault’s Car of the Year-winning 5.

EV Sales by Model, Feb 25

You’d think the most affordable car in an automaker’s lineup would also be the cheapest to insure. Makes sense, right? Well, not for Tesla. In fact, it’s quite the opposite—the Cybertruck, that giant stainless steel wedge, is actually the least expensive Tesla to insure, with significantly lower rates than the entry-level Model 3 sedan.

According to a recent study compiled by Insurify, full-coverage insurance for the Cybertruck costs an average of $3,392 per year. That’s 45% more than the national average ($2,336) and 17% higher than the typical EV ($2,892), but still cheaper than insuring any other model in Tesla’s current lineup.

More: Tariffs Could Make Your Car Insurance Even More Expensive

In fact, the Model 3 has the highest insurance rates in the Tesla lineup with an average of $4,347. That means insuring Tesla’s most affordable model costs 28% more than the Cybertruck, which starts at $79,990, even though the Model 3 is 53% cheaper to buy in its base form at $42,990 before federal and state credits, delivery fees, and taxes.

As for the rest of the pack, full-coverage insurance averages $3,510 for the Model S, $3,658 for the Model X, and $3,832 for the Model Y.

Insurance Costs Across Tesla and EV Models

Why Is the Cybertruck Cheaper to Insure?

So, what’s behind this insurance pricing paradox? A big factor is credit scores. Insurify found that 66% of Cybertruck drivers have an excellent credit score, compared to just 13% of Model 3 drivers and 35% of EV drivers overall. The Model 3’s lower credit score average is likely tied to its mass-market appeal—Tesla sells a lot more of them, and its buyers tend to be younger and/or have riskier financial profiles.

In particular, half of Cybertruck owners (50%) are in their 40s, while only 14% of Model 3 owners fall into that age group. Since older drivers generally pose less of an insurance risk, this helps keep Cybertruck rates in check.

More: EV Crash Claims Jump 38%, And Repairs Are Pricier Than Ever

Even with its relatively low insurance costs, the Cybertruck still isn’t the cheapest electric truck to insure. That title goes to the Ford F-150 Lightning, which averages $3,193 per year or 6% less than the Cybertruck. The Lightning’s lower insurance costs are likely due to its more affordable starting price and cheaper repair costs, despite the fact that only 18% of Lightning owners have excellent credit (compared to the Cybertruck’s 66%).

Will Cybertruck Insurance Rates Stay Low?

That depends. If Tesla lowers the Cybertruck’s entry price, it could attract a younger, riskier demographic, which would likely push insurance rates higher. At the same time, rising EV repair costs could add even more pressure, making premiums climb further. Since EVs are already more expensive to fix than gas-powered cars, any increase in repair expenses could have an outsized impact on insurance pricing.

More: Insurance Companies Are Writing Off Cars Faster Than Ever After Accidents

Broadly speaking, EVs cost more to insure because post-accident repair costs are 30% higher on average, and they’re more likely to be deemed total losses. Batteries, advanced sensors, and proprietary parts make even minor collisions costly. That trend isn’t unique to Tesla, but given its vehicles’ repair complexities, it’s a key factor in the company’s insurance rates.

For now, though, the Cybertruck remains an insurance outlier, one of the rare cases where a high-priced vehicle is cheaper to insure than its budget-friendly sibling. Whether that trend holds depends on how Tesla’s sales, pricing, and repair costs evolve in the years ahead.

Tesla

Electric cars contain fewer moving parts than combustion cars so, theoretically, should be less likely to go wrong, but Tesla’s Model 3 seems to be turning that logic on its head. That’s because close to one in every four examples of the electric sedan failed safety tests in Denmark last year.

MY2020 Model 3s became old enough to require an inspection by the Danish Road Traffic Authority in 2024, and of the 4,668 examples tested, 1,051 failed. That’s a 23 percent failure rate and compares badly with a 9 percent rate witnessed in rival EVs, the Federation of Danish Motorists (FDM) reports.

More: Tesla Model 3 Ranks Dead Last In German Reliability Tests For Newer Cars

Inspectors logged 1,392 defects on the Teslas, three times as many as they discovered on other EVs. Frequently noted problems concern the lights, braking, steering and suspension. Testers at Germany’s TÜV carrying out similar safety checks uncovered the same kind of issues with Model 3s sold in their market. In both 2023 and 2024, the Model 3 ranked last in the TÜV reliability study.

Will Newer Model 3 Highlands Be Any Better?

The new Danish data only covers MY2020 Model 3s, but FDM’s Lone Otto predicts owners of newer models are in line for some of the same pain.

“We have no reason to believe that younger generations of the Tesla Model 3 will differ significantly from the 2020 generation when it comes to defects and the failure rate,” the technical advisory team’s manager said. “It will be more exciting to see how the Tesla Model Y fares.”

The Model Y has been a big seller in Denmark topping the nation’s list of most popular EVs, which means they’ll make up a big proportion of the cars on the test ramps during 2025. In total, 62,000 electric cars will be subjected to the test, and 45,000 of them will get the treatment for the first time, illustrating just how rapidly the EV market grew between 2020 and 2021.

Last month in the US, Tesla was forced to recall 380,000 cars after some Model 3 and Model Y owners reported losing steering assistance. The automaker sent out an an over-the-air (OTA) update to address the problem.