Tesla Motors tops in sales of zero-emission credits
19 Oct 2013
Tesla took the green-car credit sales crown past year, according to a report released by the California Air Resources Board.
Between 1 October, 2012, and 30 September, 2013, Tesla transferred 1,311.52 zero-emission vehicle credits, overtaking those of the previous toppers, Toyota Motor Corp and Suzuki Motor Corp.
Bloomberg said Suzuki came next on the list, with 41.199, and was followed by Toyota and General Motors Co, which both transferred 507.5 partial zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) credits.
California law requires that automakers sell electric or non-polluting cars in proportion to their market share in the state, reflecting more rigid pollution rules than national standards.
Palo Alto, California-based Tesla sold 32 times the number of ZEV credits than its biggest challenger on the list. Each of its Model S sedans generated as many as seven ZEV credits, and according to Bloomberg, Tesla's ZEV credits this year through June were already worth $119 million, or 12 per cent of its first-half revenue.