AustinPowers
Total Smeghead
What is the situation with import taxes, and for that matter, VAT, on Teslas sold in Germany?
Don't know about import taxes to be honest, but our VAT rate is 19%. Actually on the lower side when compared to other European countries (France, UK: 20%, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain: 21%, Italy: 22%, Finland: 24%, Norway, Denmark, Sweden: 25%). Switzerland only has 8% VAT, but even so their prices for almost everything are generally much higher than over here. One of the most expensive countries to live in actually.
Good analysis.
I was under the impression Model S was a mass market car and Tesla was already a mass market auto manufacture.
Werrrrry funny
Of course it's not a mass market car, but can you remember the time when Elon though he could sell 10K Model S per year in Germany?
Otoh, if the Model S is such a great car (rhetorical question of course, I know it is), why indeed doesn't it sell better over here? The S class sold almost 900 in June, at least such a number could therefor be attainable. Now this takes me back to what vgrinshpun said. Yes, the Model S is in a different league than an S 300 h for example, but many people over here still prefer that league, unfortunately, especially in that price range.
Not sure I follow this - Model S has no problem maintaining top speed...
Of course not. But as @schonelucht said, even when you travel at realistic Autobahn speeds like around 100mph (which is actually what most people try to maintain, everything above is only possible for relatively short stretches at a time - too many speed limits and construction works otherwise), range drops dramatically on the Model S, not so on an S 300 h (or similar ICE).
Now please don't get me wrong, I would prefer the Model S any time, but we are talking about the majority of people over here who can afford such a car, and they actually prefer maintainable speed (not necessarily top speed, but high speed over longer periods of time) and the "coachwork" you mentioned.
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