Tesla is using a modest pricing structure to attract Chinese consumers
A fair price, or just a marketing plug? Image: Tesla Motors, Inc. |
Imported cars with highly inflated price tags have long caused discontent amongst China's car buyers.
Now American electric carmaker Tesla Motors Inc is hoping to "do the right thing" by marketing the award-winning Model S in China at US domestic prices (plus import taxes and shipping).
In a recent blog post, Tesla announced the Model S will be priced at 734,000 yuan ($120,000) and would come equipped with the premium 85kw battery pack. The price will also include free access to the Supercharger network the car maker is developing across China.
The booming automaker, who's value by market capitalisation is now half that of industry giant GM, is hoping the modest pricing structure will attract consumers away from gas-guzzling SUVs and German sports cars.
However, for now car buyers in the capital are still hesitant. In it's latest auction, Beijing received over 90 bids per available license plate for gas-powered vehicles. By contrast, license plates for EVs were significantly undersubscribed, with only 1,428 people applying for one of the 1,666 EV plates available.
Beijing has committed to add another 1,000 charging stations across the municipality by the end of the year in a bid to tackle rising pollution.