No Tesla plan understandable – APEV

A group promoting the sale and use of electric vehicles in New Zealand says it understands Tesla’s current position on not entering the New Zealand market – and says we have plenty of other electric options coming into the market for now.

According to Tesla’s Melbourne – based communications manager, Heath Walker, New Zealand is currently not catered for in the company’s plans.

Tesla announced the location of its first Australian dealership, at Artamon in Melbourne last month.

“We are still a very young company, and there is growth occurring to cater for the Australian market in sales and service,” Walker says. “There are no current plans for expansion into New Zealand.”

He says purchases can be made in Australia, with delivery taken there.

“There are no plans for Tesla to either sell any models online or open any stores in NZ, Walker adds.”

AutoTalk is aware of one Model S due in New Zealand next month, ordered through the UK with delivery taken in Europe.

Rob McEwen of the Association for Promotion of Electric Vehicles, which is soon to rename itself as Drive Electric, says there is a good reason Tesla should be selling in the NZ market.

“The primary reason they should be looking at New Zealand is the predominance of renewable energy here,” McEwen says. “But I completely understand their logic for not wanting to come here yet.”

“I think Tesla as a company prides itself on delivering a positive consumer experience all round,” he says. “And that includes giving owners access to Tesla’s ‘Superchargers’ and a unique dealer experience.

“At the moment New Zealand is too small a market to provide either effectively.

“But, I do think Telsa will get here.”

McEwen notes the group Elon in Aotearoa – facebook.com/ElonMuskVisitsNZ

– is attempting to get Tesla founder Elon Musk to visit New Zealand, and that there is a Tesla Model S on its way here.

“It is a very top of the line P85 performance model, and when landed there is going to be little change from $200,000 – and there is a limited market for cars at that price,” he says.

“In the future I believe Tesla is looking to launch a car in the US$30-35k range – which is likely to have far broader appeal.”

For now, McEwen says it is pleasing to see the availability of cheaper electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles growing, and he has been particularly impressed with what Mitsubishi has achieved with its Outlander plug-in.

Other positives include BMW launching its first I-dealership for its i3 and i8 in Auckland next week, Audi launching its A3 plug-in, and cheaper prices for the Nissan Leaf, both new and used import.

For now APEV is focussing on the Evolocity event being held in Christchurch at the end of this month, which will feature electric vehicle displays, fleet drives, and motorsport activities – including a number of electric vs petrol races.