Tesla has sweetened the deal for a Model 3 in China by making the Enhanced Autopilot package standard.
Tesla’s order pages for China now show Enhanced Autopilot as standard on all orders rather than as a 46,000 RMB (~$6,800) option. Order pages for the Model S and X still show Enhanced Autopilot as a paid option.
The update was shared by a Twitter user who said he “confirmed with the Tesla sales specialist in China” that the free upgrade is available “temporarily.”
Breaking:
Now all Tesla Model 3 ( PM3, LR AWD & LR RWD) in China 🇨🇳 are included Enhanced Autopilot feature with no extra charge, was 46300 RMB. $TSLA #Tesla #China #Model3 #TeslaChina pic.twitter.com/ITAGtF9dwR
— vincentyu.eth (@vincent13031925) February 8, 2019
Orders for the Model 3 began in China last month for the pricier Performance and Long-Range Dual Motor All-Wheel-Drive versions. The first cars arrived in China a few weeks ago.
The free Autopilot upgrade is likely an effort by Tesla to attract Model 3 buyers in China before a temporary relief on import taxes ends in April. The import tariffs result in higher prices for the sedan, which Tesla hopes to eliminate with the construction of Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai.
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk spoke about sales efforts in China, the world’s largest market for electric cars, on the company’s recent earnings call.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen with the trade negotiations,” he said. “So it’s very important to get those cars especially to China as soon as possible. We hope the trade negotiations go well, but it’s not clear. But we need to get them there while there’s sort of de facto sort of a truce on the tariff war. And demand gen is really not one of the things we’re thinking about.”