Tesla’s mission of creating a global ecosystem of sustainability is not yet over, as the business giant made two significant developments last November 8.
First is the grand opening of their flagship store in Uptown Parade, Taguig, aptly called the Tesla Experience Centre, showcasing the latest that the car manufacturer has to offer. Second is the launch of two of their sought-after vehicles, The Model 3 and the Model Y.
Revealed at Uptown Mall, BGC, last Friday, the two vehicles are just making their Philippine debut. And the Turbo Zone crew’s reaction (along with the other car enthusiasts in attendance) was living proof that these are indeed two of the most anticipated vehicles this year.
The Model Y, crowned as the world’s best-selling vehicle in 2023, combines range, performance, safety, and technology. It offers 2.1 cubic meters of cargo space, featuring versatile seating and storage for up to 5 passengers with their belongings. It also has ultra-responsive motors, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.7 seconds, and boasts a range of up to 533 km (WLTP).
On the other hand, the upgraded Model 3 has a refined exterior for optimized aerodynamics and a refreshed interior design. With extended range and new features, it maintains its thrilling performance, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.1 seconds and offering up to 629 km of range (WLTP) on a single charge.
Of course, besides the features, everyone is always curious about the price. No worries, our friends from Tesla provided a breakdown of the price range for both vehicles.
The Model Y starts at Php 2,369,000 while the Model 3 starts at Php 2,109,000. The expected arrival of the first vehicles is in early 2025.
While the launch event showed off quite a few selections of colors for Model 3, the good news is that the Tesla Design Studio will also be launched in the country. Customers will be able to customize their Model 3 or Model Y from the vehicle’s exterior, interior, and even its features. In short, they will be specifically produced based on your requirements and preferences.
That being said, the company is ever committed to helping drive a zero-emission and greener future for the Philippines. As part of this mission, Tesla will continue to develop their experience centre, their service and support, and charging infrastructures, aimed at delivering a seamless Tesla ownership experience.
This is backed by their first indoor Supercharger station in the country. Though still not operable as of the time of this writing, the station (located at the Basement 2 of Uptown Mall, BGC, among others) can charge up to 120 km in just 5 minutes. It will be available on a pay-per-use basis, providing Tesla owners with an exceptional charging experience at PHP 19 per kWh. A full charge for Tesla vehicles is approximately PHP 1,140.
It is also important to note that, in line with the Philippines’s drive towards a more sustainable future, Tesla vehicles will be exempted from number coding as well.
Overall, Tesla has always been an innovative visionary in the automotive industry, and the debut of the Model 3 and Model Y is further proof that the future is definitely not far off. As sustainability is at the core of their current mission, it would be exciting to see what else they have in store for car enthusiasts in the Philippines, a country that’s just seeing its fair share of electric vehicles in the market today. And, whether or not there are more surprises from them in the coming years, it is always a delight to be surprised by the EV behemoth known as Tesla.