Tesla (TSLA, $338.19) Slashes Car Prices By 12% to 26% In China, To Prevent Tariffs From Hurting Its Chinese Market

Tesla is again set to lower car prices for customers in China. On Thursday, the electric car maker announced that it will be slashing prices of its Model S sedan and Model X SUV by between 12% and 26% in China – even as the ongoing trade war/tariff slapping battle between the U.S. and China makes it potentially costlier to import cars from the U.S.

In May, Tesla slashed prices following China's announcement to reduce import tariff rate from 25% to 15% on U.S.-made cars. But in July, Tesla had to raise prices, after China slapped a higher, 25% tariff rate on cars imported from the U.S. as a retaliation to U.S. tariffs.

As of the latest price cut in China, Model S basic version will come at 782,900 yuan ($113,000) — down from 849,900 yuan ($122,525). Model X’s most expensive version’s price is down to around 1.2 million yuan ($171,000), from 1.57 million yuan ($227,000). Tesla Model 3 is scheduled to be launched in China with a starting price of 540,000 yuan ($78,000).

With the price cuts, Tesla is willing to absorb a “significant” part of the import tariffs in China, as indicated by its spokesperson. It seems that the carmaker does not want to let tariffs get in the way of its potential market in China – the world’s largest buyer of electric vehicles. Tesla’s revenues from China doubled last year to more than $2 billion, and China accounted for almost 20% of the company’s total car sales.

But Tesla might also be planning to curb some of the import tariff costs.  It is setting up a factory in China’s Shanghai, which is expected to produce a significant  number of vehicles so the carmaker has to potentially rely less on imports to serve the Chinese market.