Photo: Tesla, @niccruzpatane via X
Tesla has increased the price of the Model 3 Performance by $1,000, which forces buyers to stick with the free Stealth Grey color or lose the federal tax credit. The move comes before deliveries have even started, with cars still expecting the final EPA approval.
Tesla unveiled the refreshed Model 3 Performance on April 23, and people were excited to see the new model marking a huge step in performance compared to its predecessor. More power, better efficiency, improved comfort - what was not to like? To make the deal even sweeter, the Model 3 Performance is the only variant that qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit, which made it cheaper than the Long Range AWD variant.
Deliveries of Model 3 Performance were scheduled to debut this month, but they are currently on hold because Tesla hasn't got the final EPA approval. The vehicles have arrived at service centers across the country but cannot be delivered yet. Buyers scheduled for delivery this week were notified of delays, although Tesla employees don't expect these to take long. Some were rescheduled for a Sunday delivery unless the EPA approval takes longer.
Even though nobody has received their Model 3 Performance yet, Tesla is already adjusting the pricing. The sporty sedan is now $1,000 more expensive, at $54,990, dangerously close to the federal EV tax credit threshold of $55,000. This means that adding any paid extras to the configuration will make it ineligible for the tax credit. Adding any color except the base Stealth Grey, which is offered at no extra cost, will make it ineligible for the tax credit. It will be a very expensive color in that case.
To sweeten the deal, Tesla made the Black and White interior a free option. This avoids selling only grey cars with black interiors for the foreseeable future or at least until it offers another color at no extra cost. Of course, considering Tesla's chaotic [dynamic] pricing, the Model 3 Performance price might be lowered sometime, allowing buyers to add a paid color without crossing the IRA tax credit threshold.
Although the Black and White interior is now a free option for the Model 3 Performance, it has become more expensive for other Model 3 trims. Instead of the $1,500 price that Model 3 RWD and Model 3 LR AWD buyers paid, the white seats will cost them $2,000 from now on. This will probably make people ordering an RWD variant stick to the black interior option. As for the LR AWD buyers, they will be better off with the Performance variant, which is cheaper (with the tax credit) and includes the white seats at no extra charge.
It's unclear how the refreshed Model 3 Performance sales are going. Based just on the latest price increases (it launched at $52,990 in April), Tesla must have received many orders. However, the fact that you can order one now and have an estimated delivery in June makes me think we might see a price drop rather soon. For comparison, the slightly more expensive (when factoring in the tax credit) Model 3 LR AWD is estimated to be delivered in July-August, whereas the Model 3 RWD arrives in June-July.
Deliveries of Model 3 Performance were scheduled to debut this month, but they are currently on hold because Tesla hasn't got the final EPA approval. The vehicles have arrived at service centers across the country but cannot be delivered yet. Buyers scheduled for delivery this week were notified of delays, although Tesla employees don't expect these to take long. Some were rescheduled for a Sunday delivery unless the EPA approval takes longer.
Even though nobody has received their Model 3 Performance yet, Tesla is already adjusting the pricing. The sporty sedan is now $1,000 more expensive, at $54,990, dangerously close to the federal EV tax credit threshold of $55,000. This means that adding any paid extras to the configuration will make it ineligible for the tax credit. Adding any color except the base Stealth Grey, which is offered at no extra cost, will make it ineligible for the tax credit. It will be a very expensive color in that case.
To sweeten the deal, Tesla made the Black and White interior a free option. This avoids selling only grey cars with black interiors for the foreseeable future or at least until it offers another color at no extra cost. Of course, considering Tesla's chaotic [dynamic] pricing, the Model 3 Performance price might be lowered sometime, allowing buyers to add a paid color without crossing the IRA tax credit threshold.
Although the Black and White interior is now a free option for the Model 3 Performance, it has become more expensive for other Model 3 trims. Instead of the $1,500 price that Model 3 RWD and Model 3 LR AWD buyers paid, the white seats will cost them $2,000 from now on. This will probably make people ordering an RWD variant stick to the black interior option. As for the LR AWD buyers, they will be better off with the Performance variant, which is cheaper (with the tax credit) and includes the white seats at no extra charge.
It's unclear how the refreshed Model 3 Performance sales are going. Based just on the latest price increases (it launched at $52,990 in April), Tesla must have received many orders. However, the fact that you can order one now and have an estimated delivery in June makes me think we might see a price drop rather soon. For comparison, the slightly more expensive (when factoring in the tax credit) Model 3 LR AWD is estimated to be delivered in July-August, whereas the Model 3 RWD arrives in June-July.
Rumor: the Model 3 Performance is on a delivery hold while awaiting its final approval from the NHTSA https://t.co/tlJjeswMaG
— Greggertruck (@greggertruck) May 16, 2024
Google News