The Electric Car in Ten Countries
Each of these moves the real cost of owning one without changing the sticker.
Picture a couple named Sam, 57, and Lucy, 55. They want an electric car, and they have decided on a Tesla Model 3. It is one design sold in many countries, which makes it a handy test.
| Country | Model 3 version | Price in US$ |
|---|---|---|
| China | Rear-wheel drive | 35,100 |
| United States | Standard | 37,000 |
| Japan | Rear-wheel drive | 33,600 |
| Australia (before on-road costs) | Premium RWD | 38,900 |
| United Arab Emirates | Rear-wheel drive | 39,500 |
| Germany | Standard | 41,500 |
| Thailand | Rear-wheel drive | 47,500 |
| United Kingdom | Standard RWD | 50,200 |
| Singapore (with a right to own) | RWD | 140,500 |
Sources are the Tesla China site (read directly) and trade sites for the other countries, so some prices may differ from today's list. Exchange rates are from 9 October 2026. Tesla's own pages for most countries are not the source of these figures.
What the table shows
Four markets sit within a few thousand dollars of each other. Price differences start to show in places with higher sales tax: the UK price includes 20 percent VAT, and Germany's includes 19 percent. Singapore's rights-to-own raise the price to about 3.8 times the US figure.
The price also depends on what the government does with electric cars:
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The US ended its federal electric car tax credit for vehicles bought after 30 September 2025.
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Norway exempted electric cars from its one-time purchase tax, and its sales tax applies only above a price threshold that dropped from NOK 500,000 to NOK 300,000 in January 2026.
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China exempted new energy vehicles from purchase tax in 2024 and 2025, and is halving that exemption in 2026 and 2027.
Each of these moves the real cost of owning one without changing the sticker.
You could…
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Ask for the price with all taxes and registration, not only the list price.
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Check whether a credit or exemption applies to your purchase and when it ends.
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Compare the price of the same model across countries before you decide where to buy.
What did your electric car cost compared with the same model elsewhere? Tell us here. Another reader may be deciding right now.
Sources: Tesla China; Notebookcheck, carwow, CarExpert and other trade sites; IRS (EV credit end date); Norwegian tax rules as summarized by a law firm; China government announcement on purchase tax. Figures are estimates for planning, based on public data.
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