Australian Tesla Prices, 12 days have passed since I received a response to a simple twitter request to Elon Musk. It is incredible that a CEO of a global company is willing to respond to average people like myself. I am a passionate Tesla fan who is driven to see the mission of Tesla realized.
To accelerate the worlds transition to sustainable energy.
The only way I am able to currently assist with this is to spread the stories and information about Electric Vehicles to the greater community across Australia and the Globe. 12 Days ago, Elon gave me assistance to achieve this very goal.
I also wish to be able to transition my own house and family to utilizing Sustainable energy and vehicles. As I explained in my tweet to Elon the cost of Tesla’s in Australia is not within the reach of the average Australian. With a starting point of the base model 3 with no Full Self Driving is $71512. (Australian Dollars) This is a hefty sum for anyone to swallow.
In comparison, in the United States the price of the same car is $39990 (US Dollars). When this is converted using the conversion rate of $1.51 us dollars to the Australian dollar the conversion cost equates to $60385(Australian Dollars).
Australian Tesla Prices
Comparison between USD and AUD for Model 3 Tesla
So, the question needs to be asked what is the difference of $11127 used for?
According to the Australian Bureau of statistics (https://www.ato.gov.au/rates/key-superannuation-rates-and-thresholds/?page=40 ) the average wage in Australia (based upon Average Weekly ordinary time earnings (AWOTE) in June of 2019 of $1634.90 multiplied by 52 weeks of the year equals $85014.80(AUD), before tax. If the taxation rate is approx. 32.5 cents in the dollar for every dollar above $37000. Once this calculation has been completed the approximate amount that one individual will earn is $70000. This sounds like a large number however there is still the home loan/rent, Utilities, Living expenses, Car expenses, schooling for kids, etc. These numbers outline the fact that purchasing a car is not only a big decision, but one primarily driven by the cost.
Australian living expenses have been on the increase in the last 10 years due to a number of reasons least of all that environmental factors are playing their part with long droughts, 100-year storms, flooding and bushfires that are devastating areas of produce and farming.
This impact is felt in the hip pocket of every Australian across the country and that only increases the cost of living expenses and consumes the savings which historically have been put towards the wants rather than the needs.
If Tesla, and by extension Elon Musk, truly wish to gain traction in Australia there is a real need to drop the price so that the Average Australian family can afford the Model 3. The Model 3 is well suited to the Australian Market. Especially city dwellers. The Cybertruck would be well placed for those who live in the country.
If Elon and Tesla could find a way to reduce the cost of either building or transporting and investigate the $11127 disparity between the US and Australian numbers, I believe the uptake of the Model 3 in Australia would advance greatly. Furthermore, I also believe that the mission that Tesla has prided itself upon would also be realized that much quicker.
Whilst investigating the above points I also reviewed the comments from the Tweet. I came across a number of people comments who also expressed their challenges with the cost within their countries, these included
- Canada @s17_scott
- Spain @NZGrantArcher
- New Zealand @NZTeslafan
- EU @CVL37
- Israel @yasha_golod
- Europe @haggqvistDennis
- Brazil @marcosF326
- Norway @slimnoob2
- South Africa
All of these people highlighted their challenges with cost of Tesla’s, however in a number of cases they also voiced that they would buy a Tesla as their next car if they could afford the price.
Australian Tesla Prices.
These are customers in waiting.
Waiting for a price that they can afford and manage on their wages. Their passion for the cars is not wavering but the cost is a real factor.
I also had a number of people talk about their experience when buying a Tesla at the current prices and outlined that a number of Taxes here in Australia were also considerably high and unnecessary like the “Luxury Car Tax”, which was introduced to assist local car manufacturing. Unfortunately, in recent years all car manufacturing by all big companies has ceased in Australia. This was due in part to a greater acceptance of foreign manufacturers and the improved quality and variety of vehicles on offer. Now that we have no manufacturers and all vehicles are imported this tax serves no purpose.
So, where to from here so more people can gain access to some amazing environmentally friendly cars and the suite of other products that Tesla has on offer.
Some ideas include:
- Tesla
- Find cost saving s to reduce Model 3 Price
- Investigate the price differences highlighted above
- Leasing (suggested by @TeslaGong)
- Supplying Australia with Giga Shanghai Tesla’s
- Compartmentalize features of Tesla’s that can be purchased at a later date
- Build an Australian Giga Factory #GigaOz
- Government
- Incentives (Green rebate)
- Remove the Luxury car tax from all Electric Vehicles
- Reduce stamp duty, registration, etc.
These changes would have a profound effect on the footprint of Electric vehicles in Australia and also assist people to truly transition to a sustainable energy future.
Dave
Appendix ( Comparison between USD and AUD)
