Elon Musk's Tesla officially launches in PH

American carmaker Tesla has officially rolled out to Philippine roads on Friday as it joins the electric vehicle race in the country.

“Tesla has a presence in about 50 countries around the world […] We pick our presences. So I pick the Philippines is the next new market in the world,” said Tesla regional director Isabel Fan. 

The Model 3 and Model Y are now available for order online via Tesla's official website and will be delivered to the country starting early next year.

The vehicles are on displayed at the first Tesla Experience Center in Uptown Parade, Taguig.

The upgraded Model 3 can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 3.1 seconds and offers up to 629 kms on a single charge. 

It also features a 360-degree acoustic glass and a sunroof which allows passengers to enjoy the sunlight while protecting them from the harmful UV rays. 

The base model for Model 3 starts at P2,109,000. Meanwhile, the long-range all wheel drive variant costs P2,489, 000, and the performance all wheel drive variant is priced at P3,099, 000. 

Meanwhile, Model Y offers a spacious 2.1 cubic meter cargo space and active safety features such as forward collision warning, active emergency braking, and lane departure avoidance. 

Model Y also boasts a range of up to 533 kms and starts at P2,369,000. Its long-range all wheel drive variant costs P2, 689, 000, and the performance all wheel drive version is priced at P3,299, 000.

With the entry of Tesla’s electric vehicles (EV) in the Philippine market, the first indoor Supercharger station will soon open at the basement of Uptown Mall in Taguig City. A full charge for Tesla vehicles will cost approximately at P1,140.

For those who want to charge their Tesla cars at home, a free wall charger will be provided to buyers from November 8 to December 31. 

Tesla has a list of accredited installers for the wall connector.

The carmaker also said that it is committed to help the Philippines drive a “zero-emission and greener future.” 

Elon Musk is a co-founder of Tesla and his other companies SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. He is the second richest man in the world, according to Forbes' 2024 list of wealthiest individuals.

Meanwhile, the National Development Co. will help Tesla in the rollout of charging stations in the country.

“The rollout of Tesla’s charging stations, they want to be able to have our help in the rollout nationwide. Because Tesla is on a rapid scale in the availability of EVs. It’s nothing like we’ve seen before in the country,” said NDC General Manager Antonilo Mauricio in a chance interview with reporters. 

The Department of Trade and Industry earlier said that the planned executive order setting up an incentives scheme for the country’s EV sector will likely be issued by the end of the year. —AOL/VDV, GMA Integrated News