Tesla ramps up pressure on rivals with U.S., Europe price cuts

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(Reuters) -Tesla has slashed prices on its electric vehicles in the United States and Europe by as much as 20%, extending an aggressive discounting strategy and challenging rivals after missing Wall Street delivery estimates for 2022.

The move, which prompted a 4.5% fall in Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)'s shares in pre-market U.S. trade, came after CEO Elon Musk warned that the prospect of recession and higher interest rates meant it could lower prices to sustain volume growth at the expense of profit.

Musk acknowledged last year that prices had become "embarrassingly high" and could hurt demand.

The lower pricing across Tesla's major markets marks a reversal from the strategy the automaker had pursued through much of 2021 and 2022 when new vehicle orders exceeded supply.

More stable cost inflation was also a factor in reducing prices in its top European market, a spokesperson for Tesla Germany said.

The U.S. price cuts on its global top-sellers the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover SUV, were between 6% and 20%, Reuters calculations showed, with the basic Model Y now costing$52,990, down from $65,990.

That is before an up to $7,500 federal tax credit that took effect for many electric vehicles at the start of January.

Price cuts by model in Germany and the United States:

Tesla also cut prices for its Model X luxury crossover SUV and Model S sedan in the United States.

In Germany, it lopped between about 1% and almost 17% off prices on the Model 3 and the Model Y depending on the configuration. The best-selling Model Y will now go for 44,890 euros ($48,499), down by 9,100 euros.

It also reduced prices in Austria, Switzerland and France.

The cuts may make EV cars affordable to people who may have been previously priced out of the market.

In France, customers buying the Model 3 for 44,990 euros will now get a further reduction through a government subsidy of 5,000 euros on an EV scheme with a threshold of 47,000 euros.

For a U.S. buyer of the long-range Model Y, the new Tesla price combined with the U.S. subsidy amounts to a discount of 31%. In addition, the move broadened the vehicles in Tesla's line-up eligible for the Biden administration tax credit.

Before the price cut, the five-seat version of the Model Y had been ineligible, which Musk called "messed up". After the price cut, the long-range version of the Model Y will qualify.

'SHOT ACROSS BOW'

Shares in U.S. pre-market trading were lower, as investors worried the move might erode bumper margins, particularly as competition intensifies, even if it boosts sales volumes.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said the move could boost global deliveries by 12-15% this year and shows Musk on the offensive.

"This is a clear shot across the bow at European automakers and US stalwarts (GM and Ford) that Tesla is not going to play nice in the sandbox with an EV price war now underway," Ives said in a research note.

"Margins will get hit on this, but we like this strategic poker move by Musk and Tesla."

In Europe, Stellantis, Volkswagen (ETR:VOWG_p) and Renault (EPA:RENA) were down between 2.4% and 3.7% at 1212 GMT.

U.S. automakers General Motors (NYSE:GM) and Ford fell 3.2% and 2.8%, respectively, in pre-market trading.

'PUNCH IN THE GUT'

Tesla fans and customers complained the price cuts disadvantaged those who had recently bought a vehicle, leaving them with a lower second-hand value.

Greg Woodfill in Seattle, who bought a Model Y in December, had considered waiting until the new year to get the U.S. subsidy, but was lured by a discount at the time of $3,750.

"It's a punch in the gut, to be honest," he told Reuters on Friday, adding that it feels unfair Tesla sought to boost fourth quarter sales with discounts, only to cut prices a month later.

"If they knew they would drop the price this much, they should have just done it in December."

In China, where Tesla cut prices last week by 6-13.5%, owners protested at delivery centres, calling for compensation.

For 2021, the United States and China combined had accounted for about 75% of Tesla sales, but it has been growing in Europe.

Tesla cut prices in China and other Asian markets last week, which analyst had said would boost demand and increase pressure on rivals, including BYD, to follow suit in what could become a price war in the largest single EV market.

($1 = 0.9224 euros)