One Month: Time Between Tesla Lowering EV Prices & Raising Them

One month after lowering their EV prices in Australia, Tesla has bounced them up again and added $400 to all Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles. 

At today’s exchange rate, this is slightly higher than the $250US increase they’ve applied in America.  I’m surprised at how Tesla treats their prices like a yo-yo and yanks them up and down like this.  You’d think they would have saved themselves some trouble and simply cut their electric car prices less at the start of April.

Here are the base prices, including GST,  for all the Tesla EVs their Australian site gives prices for.   (They don’t want to tell me how much a Model S is.)  I’ve also included the on-road cost in NSW, as that’s the most populous state:

• Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive:  $61,300    On-road NSW: $66,456
• Model 3 Long Range:  $74,300    On-road NSW: $79,976
• Model 3 Performance:  $87,300    On-road NSW: $94,803
• Model Y Rear Wheel Drive:  $69,300    On-road NSW: $74,776
• Model Y Long Range:  $82,300    On-road NSW: $88,296
• Model Y Performance:  $95,300    On-road NSW: $105,619

What a difference a month makes! Drive away price is for NSW.

Extras Cost Extra

The above prices don’t include any “extras”.  Just getting a paint colour as boring as the standard off-white costs an extra $1,500, while red will set you back an extra $2,400.  You can also pay an extra $1,800 for 20-inch wheels that are apparently worse.  But the real kicker is asking $10,100 for “Full Self-Driving Capability”.  This is because its name almost, but not quite, exactly describes what it isn’t.  Thinking you can take a nap because you paid for “Full Self-Driving Capability” is a good way to find yourself taking a dirt nap.  If they just called it “Driver Assist — That Some People Really Like For Some Reason — But Which Definitely Can’t Fully Drive The Car For You And You Have To Watch It Like A Hawk”, I’d have no problem with it.  They could call it their “Driver Assist — TSPRLFSR — BWDCFDTCFYAYHTWILAH system” for short.

Note that if any extras bring the cost of the vehicle over the Luxury Car Tax threshold, which is currently $84,916 for EVs, you’ll have to pay 33% tax on the amount over it.

Not A Toyota Camry Dummy Spit

I have no idea why Tesla is hiking EV prices now when the cost of raw materials used to produce them is now falling.  Maybe it’s a reaction to poor first-quarter figures and they’re hoping higher prices will help.  They may also try to train people not to hold out for further price rises by showing they can increase.  But whatever the reason, I’m certain it’s not because they’re spitting the dummy after the Model 3 failed to become an Australian best seller last year.

When I first heard Tesla had raised EV prices, I wondered if it was because they had given up on trying to beat the Toyota Camry as the nation’s best-selling mid-sized sedan.  But then I found out the price rise was across the board, and what Tesla charges for the Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive is still roughly $4,000 less than in the US — before taxes or incentives are included.  So it looks like Tesla is still out to beat the Camry.  The odds look good they’ll manage it this year.

Original Source: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/tesla-raises-lowers-prices/