Tesla opened its first store in South America this week, showcasing its sleek electric vehicles (EV) at an exclusive shopping center in the Chilean capital, at a time when the manufacturer is struggling with a decline in demand for these cars and the advance of its Chinese rivals. However, the company has points of sale in Mexico had not yet opened any branches in the south of the continent, according to their website.
However, Chile has set a goal of only selling electric vehicles by 2035 Overall, acceptance of this technology remains low in Latin America, as consumers fear high prices and limited charging station networks.
The company, led by billionaire Elon Musk, held a launch event at the new Santiago store, drawing fans of the high-end car known for its Autopilot features.
I’m too excited to see it here in person and that’s why I stopped to take a photo and look at it because I repeat, it’s one of my favorite cars,” said Noemi Schuffeneger, who drove the Model Y and three vehicles Photographed in red, white and black colors.
Tesla employees explained features like the air conditioning, and a representative pointed out air vents that he said worked differently than those in a “traditional car.”
The company took some of its first public steps in South America in September when it registered the company in Chile for the purpose of “importing, exporting, manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling vehicles, particularly electric vehicles.”
The register also included other commercial activities such as the production and supply of energy and electricity.
Tesla has not disclosed any further details about its plans for Chile, It has one of the largest lithium reserves in the world, a key component for batteries used in electric vehicles.
Musk recently warned of a slowdown in the company’s sales growth this year as demand weakens across the industry and competition from Chinese electric vehicle rivals such as BYD increases.
With information from AFP.
