Tesla's RHD Model Y Is Finally Being Released In Japan
Tesla has been slow to make its way into the competitive Japanese automotive market, but the embrace of the Model Y could mean that things are changing.
U.S.-based electric vehicle company
Tesla
has garnered a large international following, but much like its customers stateside, fans of the electric sports cars are subjected to a long waitlist in the U.S
. According to
Electrek
, the company has been particularly surprised by the demand for its cars in right-hand drive
(RHD) markets like Japan, the U.K., New Zealand, and Australia. As of mid-September, however, the first RHD deliveries of the Model Y SUV are finally happening in Japan. Read on with the car ownership experts at Jerry about Tesla’s reception in Japanese markets, and why this is a big step forward for the brand.
Why Japan has been slow to embrace EVs
InsideEVs
reported on the Model Y release in Japan and cited some surprising reasons as to why it's taken so long for the popular electric SUV to make its way to Japanese markets. Much like the U.S., Japan has had a long and storied history in the world of automaking. Many of the most popular brands globally are from Japanese-based and founded companies, but in spite of the popularity of Japanese cars on American roads, it doesn’t necessarily go both ways.
For example, while SUVs reign supreme in North America, cars are much more popular in Japan. Japan also has notoriously poor EV charging infrastructure, partially thanks to efforts from automakers like Toyota that are more interested in pushing hybrids.
Will the Tesla Model Y do better than the Tesla Model 3?
Prior to the release of the RHD Model Y, only the Model 3 was available in Japan. The Model 3 sedan is Tesla’s most affordable car and has been wildly popular in the U.S.—even earning the title of the
best-selling used car in America
.In Japan, however, the Model 3 has been a bit slower to take off than it has in the rest of the world.
Regardless, demand for the Model Y has been surprisingly high, and the Japanese government seems to be embracing electrification more than ever. A few months earlier, the Japanese government announced plans to spend the equivalent of $300 million a year on subsidies and charging infrastructure. Tesla is also plotting new Supercharger locations across the country.
The Model Y has been available for preorder since June, and two versions are currently being sold—the Model Y RWD (¥6,190,000 or $46,156) and the Model Y Performance (¥8,090,000 or $60,324).
Japan might not be Tesla’s strongest market just yet, but the excitement surrounding the arrival of the Model Y indicates that things could be changing.
Getting coverage for a Tesla Model Y
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Jerry
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