Nissan Australia boss slams Tesla’s drop in EV prices as ‘irresponsible’
The boss of one of the biggest car companies in Australia has slammed a rival over the pricing of its electric vehicles.
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Nissan Australia’s boss has slammed Tesla over a number of “irresponsible” price drops.
Nissan Oceania managing director Andrew Humberstone took aim at the US company led by eccentric billionaire Elon Musk for paving the way for price cuts in electric vehicles (EVs).
Telsa has reduced the price of its Model Y in Australia three times since March. The Model Y costs $55,900 before on-road costs – a total reduction of $13,000.
Ford then dropped the price of its Mustang Mach-E in June. Jeep, Peugeot and Polestar have also reduced the price of EVs.
Mr Humberstone said Telsa dropping the price of its EVs was “disruptive” and wondered how customers who had bought an EV a year earlier at a higher price would feel.
He said some customers may have lost up to 40 per cent of their car’s value.
“I think it’s a risk to the business. I think it’s a risk to the market. I think it’s irresponsible,” Mr Humberstone told CarExpert.
“It forces people to follow, or you have to sit on the stock and wait for it to calm down and then react hopefully after the initial inertia is being dealt with.”
In May, in line with the vehicles’ life cycles, Nissan dropped the price of its Leaf EV from $50,990 to $39,990 and Leaf E+ from $61,490 to $49,990, before on-road costs.
Mr Humberstone said Nissan was not looking for a price war.
“Respectfully, for me, it’s a moral compass thing. I talk about authenticity and credibility … to me, (it’s) shameful,” he told the publication.
“People have worked hard, part of the culture of this country is hardworking Australians that have made this country what it is today.
“They got out there and they work, they do their job, and then they lose 40 per cent of the value of their product overnight?”
He added Nissan would need a “damn good reason” to drop prices, outside of product life cycles.
Nissan is expected to launch the Ariya, to rival to the Model Y, in Australia in late 2025.
Originally published as Nissan Australia boss slams Tesla’s drop in EV prices as ‘irresponsible’
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