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by dzhiurgis 355 days ago
Chinese cars in NZ cost about 5k USD less than Tesla, but you also generally get less car - slightly smaller, slightly worse specs and of course average software.

Weird exemption is Korean cars that cost far more. Go figure that out.

I agree Tesla's narrow range of options is probably THE issue. Like it or not, a lot of people's car buying is irrational. Flash looks, unrealistic range, tons of custom options, old habits (Korean EVs still ship a fricking engine start button). Tesla is the most rational car purchase out there (average looks, tons of features, tons of automation, mass produced so parts a dirt cheap). Most of rational buyers already got one.
2 comments
rsynnott 355 days ago
> Weird exemption is Korean cars that cost far more. Go figure that out.

This might be an NZ trade policy thing; in Europe, Hyundai has electric cars susbstantially cheaper than the cheapest Tesla.

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ethbr1 354 days ago
> Like it or not, a lot of people's car buying is irrational.

Oh, I'm reminded, every time I see a Cybertruck on the road.

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