Tesla begins pre-orders for ‘pricier’ Model Y in Turkey

Reuters/Patrick Pleul

Tesla has started taking pre-orders of in Turkey for its Model Y electric car, with deliveries slated to begin in May.

The US company will sell three versions of the Model Y in the country, which will be sourced from Tesla’s plant in Berlin, Germany, Daily Sabah newspaper reported.

The standard range version will be priced at $80,530 compared to $54,990 in the US after offering up to a 20 percent discount.

The long-range variant, featuring a twin-engine and four-wheel drivetrain, will be sold at $ 84,170.

The top-end Model Y performance version will be offered at $92,448. 

Tesla charging stations will become operational with the beginning of sales, with 30 fast-charging stations activated in Istanbul, northwestern Edirne, Bolu provinces and Ankara, the newspaper said.

Tesla delivered 422,875 vehicles for the first three months of this year, up four percent from the previous quarter. This was 36 percent higher than a year ago. 

In January, CEO Elon Musk said Tesla could achieve two million vehicle deliveries this year, up 52 percent from last year.

Investors have been watching Musk’s gamble that cutting prices would stimulate sales, making up for the profit hit from eroding margins. 

In January, Tesla slashed prices globally by as much as 20 percent, unleashing a price war after missing Wall Street delivery estimates for 2022. The basic Model Y that used to sell for $65,990 now costs $54,990.