Sales of Tesla vehicles continue to grow in China and have reached close to half of U.S. sales, according to the company's recent filing with the SEC.

Tesla reported third-quarter sales in China of $3.11 billion. The figure amounts to 48.5% of the $6.41 billion in U.S. sales. In 2020, 41.4% of sales came from China. Sales in China rose 22.6% compared to 20% from the same period last year.

Tesla's market share in China is considered impressive given the number of electric vehicle companies in the world's most populated country.

China has recorded more than 200,000 Tesla cars sold in 2021. Tesla Models 3 and Y came in at No. 2 and No. 3 on a list of the top 15 electric car brands being sold for the first three quarters of 2021.

"For all of Q3, China remained our main export hub," chief financial officer Zachary Kirkhorn said. "Production has ramped well in China, and we are driving improvements to increase the production rate further."

Tesla’s success in China comes as the California-based automaker faces pressure from state media after a woman who bought a Tesla protested the company at a Shanghai auto show wearing a T-shirt that read “breaks don’t work.” The woman was involved in a car accident due to a “speeding violation” and would not allow a third-party inspection of her car, insisting on a refund.

State media and government agencies quickly criticized Tesla, saying, “The arrogant and overbearing stance the company exhibited in front of the public is repugnant and unacceptable, which could inflict serious damage on its reputation and customer base in the Chinese market.”

Tesla apologized in a statement and said it is willing to cooperate with authorities and carry out “self-examination and self-correction” to rectify problems with its customer service process.

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