Tesla finally arrives in the Philippines with attractive pricing for Model 3 and Model Y

EV brands in the country must be flourishing because the biggest name in the EV space finally couldn’t help but join the fray. Tesla Motors has finally entered the Philippine market and brought with them two of their most affordable offerings – the Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV. Along with that is the Tesla experience, the Superchargers, and more.

Model 3

The Model 3 sedan is sized slightly bigger than a Toyota Corolla Altis or a Honda Civic, but not along a Camry. It’s the more affordable of the two Teslas, with a starting price of PHP 2,109,000. It’s available in three variants – Rear-wheel Drive, Long Range, and Performance, and has a range of 513 km, 629 km, and 528 km respectively.

It has a simple but premium exterior design that makes use of LED lighting, pop-out door handles, turbine-looking wheels, powered trunk, and an all-glass roof.

Inside is a very spacious cabin with a minimalist dashboard layout that will take a bit of getting used to. Unlike other EVs that are still using the traditional design of having an instrument cluster and stalks by the steering column, the Model 3 has none of that.

Instead you’ll be getting a heads-up display, multi-function buttons on the steering wheel, and a huge 15-inch screen at the center of the dash. There’s an additional 8-inch screen behind the center console for the rear occupants.

The Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive is priced at PHP 2,109,000; Long Range at PHP 2,489,000 and the Performance trim at PHP 3,099,000. It’s slated to officially arrive at Q1 2025.

Model Y

Those who want a higher ground clearance will be glad Tesla also brought in the Model Y SUV that starts at PHP 2,369,000. Its size is a tad smaller than the current Ford Territory. It also has three variants with the same name as the Model 3 and has ranges of 455 km (RWD), 533 km (Long Range), and 514 km (Performance).

The exterior amenities are the same as what’s on the Model 3. The difference is here, you obviously have a bigger opening for your cargo area. It also has the same all-glass roof but this time, there’s no more dividing column at the center, giving you a greater view above.

It has the same 15-inch touchscreen and controls on the steering wheel as the model 3. There’s no more screen at the rear of the center console though.

The Tesla Model 3 is priced at PHP 2,369,000 for the Rear-wheel Drive, PHP 2,689,000 for Long Range, and PHP 3,299,000 for the Performance trim. It will arrive a bit later in Q2 2025.

Both cars also have Advanced Drive Assist System, Tesla Autopilot, Arcade, and the company’s signature Dog Mode.

The two cars are coming with a wall charger and have a basic vehicle warranty of 4 years or 80,000 km, whichever comes first. The battery and drivetrain has a separate warranty of 8 years or 192,000 km, whichever comes first.

Apart from the cars, Tesla is also bringing a different user experience into the country. Customers can order online via their website and see the estimated delivery date of the car. They also brought in the Tesla Design Studio so customers can have their custom options for the two cars. Alternatively, they can go to the Tesla Experience Center in Uptown Parade to see the cars in person. Once they’re ready, someone from Tesla Philippines can help them with their purchase.

Tesla is also set to introduce the Superchargers soon. The first Supercharger Station will be at Basement 2 of Uptown Mall where 4 slots are almost ready. Other locations within NCR are also in progress and will be launched soon. Charging here would cost PHP 19 per kWh bringing the total to around PHP 1,140 for a fully charged Model 3. It can also give you 120 km of range with just 5 minutes of charging.

Tesla Mobile Service, the Tesla App, Over-the-Air updating, and Service Centers will also be launched soon.

Photos by Vincent Villa