- Tesla introduced a new auto financing plan in China featuring low down payments and monthly installments, targeting budget-conscious buyers.
- The move comes weeks after the company scrapped its seven-year auto loans amid tighter bank credit.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has launched a new "Easy Loan" auto financing service in China, as the US EV maker seeks to attract consumers by lowering the barrier to entry for car purchases.
The financing plan applies to the locally produced Model 3, Model Y, and Model Y L, and is available to consumers who purchase Tesla vehicles by May 31, 2026, according to a Weibo post published on Wednesday.
For the rear-wheel-drive Model 3, which starts at 235,500 yuan ($34,670), the minimum down payment for a five-year plan is just 55,900 yuan.
The monthly installment for this plan is as low as 2,193 yuan, with an annualized interest rate of about 0.99%. Consumers will need to pay a final balloon payment of 45,500 yuan at the end of the five-year period.
The program significantly lowers the threshold for Chinese consumers to purchase Tesla vehicles.
Under standard auto loan plans, Chinese consumers are required to make a down payment and then pay monthly installments on the remaining balance. For the Model 3, the down payment is 35% of the vehicle's price, or 79,900 yuan, with monthly payments starting at 2,460 yuan.
In the latest new program, Tesla has split the purchase price into two main components: a down payment and monthly installments similar to regular loan plans but at lower amounts, plus a new lump-sum balloon payment due at the end of the loan term.
In the plans announced today, consumers can also opt for low-interest loans ranging from one to five years. The minimum down payment for this option is 45,900 yuan, with an annualized interest rate starting at about 0.92%.
Tesla is also offering limited-time perks for paint customization and specific charging benefits. Eligible Model 3 buyers can receive an additional insurance subsidy of 8,000 yuan.
The roll-out of the new scheme comes amid shifts in China's auto credit market. Tesla just scrapped its seven-year, low-interest loan option in May.
Several Chinese automakers have halted similar services as financial institutions tighten their risk exposure to ultra-long-term loans. Tesla has retained only a zero-interest financing plan for up to five years.
Accommodative financing policies are crucial for Tesla in the fiercely competitive Chinese market. The company's overall retail sales in China fell 9.66% year-on-year to 25,956 vehicles in April.
The Model Y continued to dominate Tesla's retail sales in China last month. The model sold 22,990 units in April, contributing to nearly 90% of its domestic share.
Despite the decline in domestic retail, Tesla China's wholesale volume still reached 79,478 units in April. This was largely driven by its Shanghai factory exporting 53,522 vehicles to overseas markets.
($1 = 6.7921 yuan)
