Tesla launches Model 3, Model Y in Thailand

Credit: Bankok Auto Salon | YouTube

Tesla has officially launched the Model 3 and Model Y in Thailand with a special launch event in Bangkok.

Tesla has been planning to enter Thailand for some time. In May, filings showed the automaker had already registered for a business license and was putting together a team of executives. However, this is no concrete indication, as Tesla did the same in India several years ago, but plans never panned out.

Thailand is a different story. Following Tesla’s business filings in May, the automaker started hiring for specific jobs in Tesla operations for the Thai market. Tesla was evidently planning to launch operations soon. The hype was only solidified as Thailand was added to Tesla’s firmware, hinting toward a potentially imminent entrance into the market.

Now, it’s official. Tesla launched the Model 3 and Model Y this morning with an event in a luxury shopping mall in Bangkok.

The Model 3 is available across its three trims and starts at 1,759,000 Thai Baht ($50,271), according to Tesla’s Thailand Configurator.

  • Rear Wheel Drive Model 3 – 1,759,000 ($50,271)
  • Dual Motor All-Wheel-Drive Model 3 – 1,999,000 ($57,130)
  • Performance Model 3 – 2,309,000 ($65,990)

Meanwhile, the Model Y starts at 1,959,000 Thai Baht ($55,987) for its entry-level trim configuration.

  • Rear Wheel Drive Model Y – 1,959,000 ($55,987)
  • Dual Motor All-Wheel-Drive Model Y – 2,259,000 ($64,561)
  • Performance Model Y – 2,509,000 ($71,706)

Thailand is a favorable market for Tesla to enter due to its growth in EV ownership through 2022. The country’s Ministry of Energy said sales of EVs increased by 223 percent through the first nine months of 2022 compared to the same timeframe in 2021. Through the first nine months of the year, 13,298 EVs were registered in Thailand.

Tesla will look to compete with the likes of several local and domestic automotive companies. Toyota launched its bZ4X in Thailand earlier this year, and Chinese rival BYD is also keen to set up operations by 2024.

I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.

Joey Klender: Joey has been a journalist covering electric mobility at TESLARATI since August 2019. In his time at TESLARATI, Joey has broken several big stories, including the first images of the Tesla Model S Plaid, the imminent release of the 4680 Model Y through EPA certification, and several expansions to the Lucid AMP-1 factory in Arizona, to name a few. His stories have been featured in several publications, including Yahoo! Finance, Fox News, CNET, and Seeking Alpha. In his spare time, Joey is playing golf, watching MMA, or cheering on any of his favorite sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles, Miami Heat, Washington Capitals, and Penn State Nittany Lions. You can get in touch with joey at joey@teslarati.com. He is also on Twitter @KlenderJoey.
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