Tesla reaches Southeast Asia with Thailand presence

MANILA: Tesla now has an official presence in Thailand. According to ZigWheels Malaysia, the automaker made its debut at Thailand's Siam Paragon and offers two models for customers to order: the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y.

It will not be novel to see Tesla cars on Thai roads, as earlier prospective purchasers were acquiring them via alternate channels including a lot of hassle and additional money. But now that the electric vehicle manufacturer has made its official entry into the market, customers can immediately begin placing orders for the 2023 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y.

The government in Thailand is working hard to make EVs more accessible and appealing to consumers, so now is a great time for Tesla to enter that market. About 1.5 million to 2 million vehicles are produced in the nation each year, half of which are exported. A key component of the Thai government's strategy to maintain its position as the leading regional automaker is to increase domestic demand for EVs.

By 2030, the government wants to produce 725,000 EVs annually, or 30% of all new vehicles. EV sales by Chinese automakers have started in Thailand.

The Model 3 and Model Y, two of Tesla's most recognizable vehicles, are now available in Thailand. The former prioritizes performance, and the latter, long-range.

Both variants come fitted with the brand's distinctive 15-inch touchscreen which allows the driver to operate many car features. The system also supports gaming arcades, YouTube, and Netflix. In addition to future model releases, Tesla will inaugurate its first supercharger in Thailand by Q1 2023. According to reports, it can fully charge an EV for 275 km in 15 minutes.

Tesla was founded in 2003 with the intention of producing electric vehicles and other cutting-edge technology. Nikola Tesla, an inventor and electrical engineer, is honored by the company's name.

Musk has served as Tesla CEO since 2008. Tesla began production of its first car model, the Roadster sports car, in 2009.

The Tesla Model S sedan, Model X SUV, Model 3 sedan, and Model Y crossover all came after the Roadster, debuting in 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020, respectively.

According to reports, the Tesla Model 3 is currently the best-selling plug-in electric vehicle in the world and became the first electric vehicle to sell 1 million units globally in June 2021.

The estimated all-electric range of the Tesla Model 3's base model is 438 kilometers, while that of the long range model is 576 kilometers. Tesla claims that the Model 3 has fully functional self-driving technology, with regular software updates bringing on new features.

As the automotive venture Tesla comes to Asia, could this mean like Thailand, the Philippine market could see Tesla vehicles on sale?

Photos from Tesla

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