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Tesla slashed car prices in China for the second time in less than three months on Friday, deepening its discounts in the world’s largest auto market.
The latest cut, along with a reduction in October and various incentives that amount to as much as 10,000 yuan extended to Chinese buyers over the past three months, amounts to a 13% to 24% reduction in Tesla’s prices from September, according to Reuters calculations.
On Friday, the U.S. automaker slashed prices for all versions of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in China by between 6% to 13.5%, according to Reuters calculations based on the prices shown on the website. For instance, the starting price for Model 3 was cut to 229,900 yuan ($33,427) from 265,900 yuan.
The China prices of the Model 3 and Model Y cars are now 24% to 32% lower than in the United States, Tesla’s largest market, Reuters calculations showed, due to reasons including different material and labor costs.
The move comes after industry association data showed December deliveries of Tesla’s China-made cars fell to 55,796, the lowest in five months, as it reduced output and lowered prices to deal with rising inventories.
It also occurred just days after Beijing wound down a subsidy program that helped build the world’s largest electric vehicle market. Softening demand has forced Tesla and its rivals to absorb the brunt of that decision to maintain sales.
The U.S. electric vehicle maker is also facing intensifying competition from Chinese rivals. The Model 3 and Y have been the only models it delivers in China, though on Friday, it announced prices for the Model S and Model X in China.
BYD, which has a much larger variety of offerings that comprise both plug-in and pure electric vehicles, saw its retail sales in China double in December, while Tesla’s fell 42%, according to data from China Merchants Bank International.
Tesla will sell the Model S Plaid and Model X Plaid in China for 1,009,900 yuan and 1,039,900 yuan, respectively, nearly 10% higher than its U.S. prices, its website showed.
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