Latest rejig in bigger markets that have pulled down stickers by up to 20 percent have not impacted in NZ.

MOST price reductions on Kiwi-favoured Teslas implemented a fortnight ago are so far remaining intact, at a time when other markets are seeing more dramatic slashing.

Tesla has been making headlines in major markets - particularly China, North America and the United Kingdom -in the past week for reducing stickers, particularly on the high-volume Model 3 and its crossover sibling, the Model Y, by between six and 20 percent. In America, the Model Y went from $US65,990 to $52,990.

Tesla has not fully disclosed the reasons for the realignments, though many industry commentators say it’s in light of the brand having not achieved the lofty international volume targets it hoped for in 2022, with repercussion on its stock values.

This when, ironically, the Model Y has been such a hit in New Zealand it established as the top-selling EV in 2022 even though availability only began in August.

The price slashing is expected to raise buyer demand – though it has also riled existing owners. In China, sales outlets have been mobbed by people who bought just ahead of the revisions and are angry they won’t be getting rebates and also that their own cars have now dramatically devalued.

 US website Jalopnik weighed in at the weekend, saying while Tesla has always shown a willingness to change its prices on impulse, following trends in the market, “these cuts are steep ... in fact, these discounts are so severe that they undercut the used market.”

It also suggests that, between brand owner Elon Musk’s “antics and an ever-growing field of competition, Tesla can’t rely on its cult of personality to make sales the way it could in years past. Now, the company has to truly compete.”

Tesla has no media relations  department and it has made no NZ market-specific comment. This morning, the brand’s website for this market showed no change to pricing that implemented at the start of January.

Until then, the Model 3 sedan priced from $74,900 for the entry-level spec, $91,200 for the Long Range rear-wheel drive and the flagship Performance sat at $103,900.

The Model Y, meanwhile, had previously had its entry-level model and Performance model priced at $76,200 and $108,900, respectively.

Since the start of January and when checked today the Model 3 priced from $70,900 – a $4000 decrease. The Performance model was down $3000, to $100,900. The long-range rear-drive was not listed.

With Model Y, the entry-level grade is at $75,900 - a $300 decline, while the dual-motor Performance sits at $105,900, $3000 less than previously.

Pricing for the Model S and Model X no longer lists. Those cars are effectively no longer in inventory; buyers must order from the website and pricing is established once a specification is sorted.

This has occurred after a series of price increases, mainly for Model 3 over past 18 months; The car increased in price by $8000 between June of 2021 and July, 2022, according to one publication.

Industry figures have noted the $3000 reduction is roughly about the same amount Telsa will earn as a carbon credit for every car sold under Clean Car legislation that rewards brands with zero and low CO2 product. The regulation has effected since January 1, but the rebate element has been held off until July 1 as the process to enable it is still being worked through. This credits are earned by the distributor, not the buyer, and are additional to the $4625 rebate that goes to an eligible buyer of a NZ-new electric car selling for no more than $80,000.

The pricing saga is not the only NZ-relevant Tesla news of the moment.

 The brand has just released, on YouTube, footage showing winter testing last year of its passenger cars, including a version of the Model Y with a Track Mode yet to avail to consumers, at a famed Southern Hemisphere Proving Ground, located in high country between Queenstown and Wanaka.

Colloquially called ‘the Snow Farm’, the spot is used by many of the world’s car makers for development of future products, with activity particularly fervent in August and September.

Tesla seems to have brought took its entire lineup of vehicles, except the Semi large truck. A report says that thanks to the cars’ over-the-air update capability, changes could be quickly made, implemented and then tested. Working on the Model Y Track Mode was the main point of focus, according to reports.

The crossover is the first taller Tesla to get this mode, which is for spirited driving at circuits.