The Real Reasons Behind The Model 3 And Model Y Price Increases

These are Tesla's most recent price increases.

Tesla raised the price of the Model 3 Standard Range Plus by $500 to $39,690. Unless a buyer chooses a white Model 3, the car will cost over $40,000. Most color options except for white have a $1,000 price tag attached to them. Many buyers will opt to get Tesla’s level 2 autonomous driving package which adds another $10,000. The Model 3 Long Range AWD and performance models also had their respective prices increased, but Tesla did add a new door trim to them. The Model Y Long Range AWD also had its price raised by $500.

Possible Reasons for these price increases

Parts supply shortages - Tesla had issues with parts supply shortages at their Fremont factory back in February which seemed to have impacted production output somewhat.

Demand - The Model 3 is Tesla’s top selling vehicle, and its name is gaining even more steam around the world. Tesla delivered more Model 3 and Model Y cars than they produced in the first quarter of 2021. Granted, the cars Tesla produces this quarter can be sold in future quarters, but Tesla might want to ramp up production even more. Tesla is building all these new factories, so they aren’t naive about the increasing demand. It’s just a question of how quickly these new factories can scale up their operations.

Interior changes - There have been some interior changes that were reported such as the new door trim on both the Model 3 and Model Y. However, some sources are saying there are some interior changes that are not being reported on.

The $25,000 Tesla is needed

The Model 2 is what is expected to be the $25,000 Tesla, and it should be on its way to production soon. It would further diversify the market as new options and high demand seem to be driving prices up.

Check out this article that talks about credits and incentives Tesla buyers could be eligible for if they meet the qualifications.

Speaking of incentives and options, it seems buying a Tesla has become somewhat of a two-way street. Right now there are price increases and new add-ons. Tesla has many expensive options such as the $10,000 level 2 autonomous driving package. On the other side of the coin, buyers may soon qualify for thousands of more dollars in incentives due to EV tax credits.

Therefore, when buying a Tesla, it is hard to know exactly what the price of your car will come out to because it all depends what options you get and which incentives you qualify for.

Prices could fluctuate in the future

It would be fine if the prices of Tesla cars went up and down based on current demand. The prices have seemed to have been going mostly up as of late. The one notable exception is when the price of the Model S was cut in order to compete with Lucid motors. Elon Musk tweeted out a hopeful tweet yesterday. He thanked Tesla suppliers for providing him with critical parts. Many Tesla followers are interpreting this event as a signal that new conductor chips had arrived.

Image:Tesla

Daniel Cappo reports Tesla developments at Torque News. He has had a passion for cars ever since age five when his grandparents let him drive their old golf cart around their property in Upstate NY. He has attended numerous auto shows, and even got the chance to drive a Ferrari California on the track. Ever since Tesla opened up a dealership at his local mall, he's been an avid follower of their cars and technology. Dan has a B.S. in Public Communication from U Vermont. Follow Daniel on Twitter and LinkedIn for daily Tesla News.