Tesla Plans to Double Japanese Dealerships by 2026, All Managed Directly by the Company

Tesla plans to double its dealership footprint in Japan by the end of 2026, with all new dealerships to be managed directly by the company. Many of the new dealerships will be located in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. This move aims to increase Tesla's presence in Japan and meet growing demand for electric vehicles.

Electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has announced plans to significantly expand its dealership network in Japan, aiming to double its current footprint by the end of 2026. The company, which has primarily relied on online sales in the Asian country, is set to open new dealerships directly managed by Tesla, with many of these new locations expected to be situated in major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.

According to recent reports, Tesla plans to increase its store count from the current 23 to 30 by the end of 2025, and subsequently add another 20 locations in 2026, bringing the total to 50 by the end of next year. The company has a longer-term goal of reaching 100 dealerships nationwide [2].

The expansion comes as Tesla aims to bolster its presence in Japan and capitalize on the growing demand for electric vehicles. Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, has previously stated that the company should have a market share proportionate to German premium brands, such as Mercedes-Benz, which sold over 53,000 units in Japan last year [1].

In addition to the dealership expansion, Tesla is also focusing on enhancing its fast-charging network in Japan. As of the time of writing, the company has 130 fast-charging stations in the country. Tesla plans to support the Japanese fast-charging standard, CHAdeMO, by providing a dedicated adapter for Tesla owners, allowing them to choose from both Tesla's fast-chargers and CHAdeMO's [2].

Despite Tesla's sales growth, the adoption of electric vehicles in Japan has been slower compared to other markets. In the first half of 2025, battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales fell by 7% to around 27,000 units, according to Nikkei. Consumer preferences in Japan are characterized by strong domestic brand loyalty, and Japanese automakers have been slow to incorporate electric vehicles into their lineups [2].

References:
[1] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4467576-tesla-aims-to-double-its-dealership-footprint-in-japan-by-the-end-of-2026
[2] https://eletric-vehicles.com/tesla/tesla-targets-50-stores-in-japan-by-2026-long-term-goal-set-at-100-report/