Tesla and its Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles have made their way to Southeast Asia. Specifically, both are now available in Thailand.
The Tesla Model 3
No, this isn’t by way of the gray market, but in an official capacity. A Thai buyer may even purchase a Tesla vehicle from the brand’s localized official website, just as one would in other markets where the electric car brand is sold.
For the famous Model 3 sedan sold in the Land of Smiles, it comes in two different trims. The entry-level variant is a rear-wheel-drive version equipped with a 57.5 kWh battery and a range of 559 kilometers. It can make up to 342 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque.
The more powerful all-wheel-drive (AWD) version meanwhile, has a larger 75 kWh battery, and a longer range of 681 km. It is also more powerful with an output of 506 horsepower and 493 Nm of torque.
The Model Y is essentially a larger, crossover version of the Model 3
Pricing for the Model 3 in Thailand ranges from 1.9 million baht to 2.3 million baht before taxes and other fees. At current exchange rates, that’s around Php 3 million to Php 3.6 million.
The Model Y electric compact crossover meanwhile gets three variants. There’s a rear-wheel-drive version, a long-range AWD version, and a Performance variant. The latter is the most powerful, as it provides up to 526 horsepower and 493 Nm of torque. The one with the most range is the mid-spec version with 623 km, while the entry-level and performance variants offer 510 km, and 582 km respectively.
The Model Y price-wise starts at 1.9 million baht (around Php 3 million). The Model Y Performance version meanwhile, carries the most expensive price tag in Thailand at 2.5 million baht before other fees. That’s Php 3.9 million at current exchange rates.
Both cars practically shares the same interior design
If you’re wondering about how Tesla users in Thailand will be able to charge their cars, it was announced that a supercharger station will be opened in said country by the first quarter of 2023. More stations will then be established for the rest of 2023.
Can one take this as a sign that Tesla may enter the Philippine market officially in the near future? Another interesting question is, is Tesla thinking of building cars in Thailand too?
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