Is Tesla Available in South Africa?

Are Tesla cars sold in South Africa?

More and more people are interested in the brand. Not only is Tesla Motors leading the transition from the combustion engine to electricity, but it is also making some great cars in the process.

Tesla has led the charts when it comes to the most loved cars by owners, the safest cars and the most reliable cars. Their operating costs are low, and with the massive and still expanding supercharger network in the US, range anxiety is becoming less of an issue.

However, as Americans and a few select countries continue to enjoy the benefits that come with electric cars, South Africans are yet to do so.

In the case of Tesla, it is quite curious that celebrity CEO is South African, yet the beloved car is not officially sold in the country. Also strange is that Elon Musk promised to start a South African operation as early as 2016, yet nothing has come out of it.

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So, when will Tesla come to South Africa?

In December 2018, Elon Musk Tweeted a list of 11 new Tesla stores that were opening that week in the US.

Someone in the replies asked him when South Africans can expect their own Tesla stores. ”Probably end of next year,” Musk answered.

The CEO was obviously not sure, but it looks like the first possible arrival of Tesla in South Africa will be end of 2019.

If I was a gambling man, I would not put my money on that however. His 2016 promise did not amount to anything, and frankly, Elon Musk has made very optimistic promises in the past that failed spectacularly.

Whenever Tesla finally decides to come to South Africa, we can expect its best seller to be the Model 3, whose retail price starts at about R500,000.

The motor company would be the fourth in the country to introduce all electric vehicles, after Nissan (Leaf), BMW (i3) and Jaguar (I-Pace).

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