Several hundred Tesla owners in China gathered at the automaker’s showrooms and distribution centers over the weekend, demanding rebates and credits after sudden price cuts that they say resulted in them overpaying for electric vehicles (EVs) they bought earlier.
The protesters, who numbered around 200 and included recent buyers of the Tesla Model Y and Model 3, gathered at a Tesla delivery center in Shanghai to protest the company’s decision to cut prices for the second time in three months on Friday. Many of the protesters said they had believed that the prices Tesla charged for its EVs late last year would not be cut as significantly as the automaker just announced.
The price cuts, which were made in an effort to boost sales and support production at Tesla’s Shanghai plant, resulted in prices for Tesla EVs in China being between 13% and 24% lower than their September levels. Some protesters demanded rebates and credits, while others called for an apology and compensation or other credits. Despite the controversy surrounding it, the price cut may have already successfully boosted sales according to rumors.
