Over the weekend, hundreds of Tesla owners protested outside the automaker’s showrooms and distribution sites in China, seeking credits and refunds after unexpected price reductions they said indicated they had overpaid for earlier-purchased electric cars.
About 200 recent Tesla Model Y and Model 3 purchasers gathered on Saturday at a Tesla delivery facility in Shanghai to demonstrate against the American automaker’s Friday decision to lower pricing for the second time in three months.
In an effort to boost sales and maintain production at a Shanghai assembly facility, many said they had thought that the prices Tesla charged for EVs late last year would not be reduced as sharply or as drastically as the firm had disclosed. Many people rushed to complete their purchases since a government incentive was set to expire at the end of 2022.
Crowds were seen in videos shared on social media at Tesla shops and delivery hubs in other Chinese cities ranging from Chengdu to Shenzhen, implying a broader customer reaction.
Following Friday’s surprising cuts, Tesla’s EV pricing in China is currently between 13% and 24% lower than in September.
