Is Tesla relaunching the car price war? This Sunday, the Model 3 sedan is priced at just under 40,000 euros in France, down 3,000 euros for the base “Propulsion” version.
The “High autonomy with all-wheel drive” version loses 2,000 euros, starting at 48,990 euros.
Loss of bonuses and response to competition.
Since the application of the environmental score at the end of last year, the Tesla Model 3, assembled in the Shanghai factory for Europe, can no longer benefit from the ecological bonus in France. This reduction somehow compensates for the end of your right to receive this aid of 5,000 euros in 2023 (but which continued to apply until mid-February), reduced to 4,000 euros in 2024.
The Model Y SUV, produced at the Berlin factory, continues to benefit from the main aid for the purchase of a new electric car in France. At the beginning of the year, Tesla had lowered its price between 3,000 and 4,000 euros depending on the version, to start at 42,990 euros (and therefore 37,990 euros discounting the 2023 bonus).
This “Propulsion” version of the Model Y has since risen to 44,990 euros (bonuses excluded), but Tesla has just added a new variant, the “High Autonomy Propulsion”. Translation: a Model Y with a single motor, in the back, but with a larger battery. The autonomy thus increases from 455 km to 600 km. Enough to respond in particular to the French offensive on electric SUVs at the beginning of 2024, with the new Renault Scénic and Peugeot 3008.
Relaunch sales
New price cuts that can also be interpreted as a response to Tesla’s slowing sales. In this context, the manufacturer plans to cut 10% of its workforce worldwide.
In France in March, the Model Y remained the second best-selling electric car, just behind the Peugeot e-208. On the other hand, the Model 3 ranked seventh during this first full month without bonuses. A significant drop after last year’s third place, behind the Tesla SUV and the Dacia Spring.
Declines also in China and the United States
France is not an isolated case: Tesla has also just reduced the prices of its models by almost 2,000 dollars (about 1,870 euros) in China, notes the Reuters agency.
This Sunday, the manufacturer reduced the starting price of the redesigned Model 3 in China by 14,000 yuan ($1,930) to reach 231,900 yuan ($32,000), a strong symbol at a time when the Beijing fair opens this week with numerous novelties expected from Chinese manufacturers such as BYD. Tesla’s main rival worldwide.
Tesla has made similar reductions in the starting price of the Model Y, which drops to 249,900 yuan, the regular version of the Model S, which drops to 684,900 yuan, and the Model S Plaid, which drops to 814,900 yuan. The basic Model X now costs 724,900 yuan and its Plaid variant 824,900 yuan.
The same thing happens in the United States, where the automaker also reduced the price of its Model Y, Model X and Model S by $2,000 on Friday. The manufacturer also lowers the price of some options: on Saturday, its “Full Self-Driving” driving assistance software went from $12,0000 to $8,000.
Source: BFM TV
