Tesla arrives in Chile, seeks executives and opens the road to South America

A few days ago the national site autocosmos.cl announced that via the social network Linkedin You’re here The search for executives (general manager and commercial director) for the domestic market has begun, which has revived the question of when the electric car company would arrive from Elon Musk in Chile.

Although in general, it is Musk himself who personally confirms every step the company takes – and who also does it through your social network ) – so far, no news from the boss of the American firm.

However, Tesla is coming to Chile and will do so in the coming months. “Tesla is indeed about to land in South America. “A few months ago they started to analyze the logistical aspects (ports, customs, taxes, etc.) and now the commercial and organizational aspects are being closed,” this is what a close source exclusively declares of Tesla. MT of La Tercera .

Chile would be the spearhead in South America , to then begin their disembarkation process in Colombia. The brand will arrive directly, that is to say without an importer, as in the rest of the world, where it is present in more than 40 markets (North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia).

The first units would arrive on the national market in January 2024, although the same source specifies that “this is the most ambitious month, but it would not be unusual if it were postponed”.

Although the product range has not yet been defined, the most natural would be for its launch on Chilean lands to be with the Model Y, which is the brand’s best-selling electric model, to then give way to the rest of the portfolio. , as our source commented.

Its price in the United States starts at around $48,000 (before incentives) and, as in the rest of the markets, its price should be similar in Chile. In addition, thanks to the FTA that our country has with the northern country, this model would not have to pay the 6% tariff that some electric models of European origin pay (because it is 100% manufactured in the United States). -United).

For now, Tesla will only arrive with the sale of its cars, however home charging stations should follow very soon. “It would be natural,” says the source. In all cases, it is most likely that public chargers that exist in Chile require an adapter to accommodate Tesla models, “to be sure that this aspect is considered in the strategy of the brand for shipping to Chile”, advises The source. In any case, Tesla would not risk entering a market where its cars cannot be recharged, the brand is characterized precisely by making the process easier for the user.

For the market, the arrival of Tesla is not indifferent. “The truth is that at Anac we do not have official information on this subject: it is only when the brand arrives in Chile that it is common for it to join our union, provided that it is the direct importer or the representative of the brand authorized by the factory”, he underlines. Diego Mendoza, secretary general of the National Automobile Association of Chile (Anac), who adds that “It is always positive to ‘have one more player, to compete in our market of 28 origins, 1,800 approved models and versions, and full commercial openness. “His arrival shows that our market continues to be one of the most attractive, particularly for a first foray into Latin America.”

“The arrival of Tesla does not complicate us or scare us, on the contrary, we believe that the more players join electromobility, the more options users will have, the more people will know the subject and the more people will dare jump in. jump.” towards an electric car. In addition, we have confidence in the quality of our products, it is not for nothing that BYD has become the largest producer of electric cars in the world,” says Cristián Garcés, General Director of BYD Auto.

The Tesla Model Y, which shares a platform with the Model 3, is an SUV that offers more space to its occupants than its brother. The first deliveries of this model were made in March 2020 and it features a captivating design.

It is available in three versions: the first is designed to offer a more competitive product, it has a range of 430 km and 347 HP of power; the second is Long Range, which offers a maximum of 533 kilometers on a single charge and maximum acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5 seconds; and the third, the Performance variant, which thanks to a series of mechanical and aesthetic improvements, allows to improve its acceleration capacity from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds and offers 534 hp of power.

Chile is no stranger to the North American manufacturer. It is known that the leaders of the brand and even Musk himself have had conversations and approaches with various private and public organizations, to seek alliances either for the extraction or for the processing of Lithium, a fundamental element for Tesla vehicle batteries.