Prime Renault exec takes veiled shot at Elon Musk on value cuts, saying he received’t ‘go right into a spiral that a few of the competitors has finished’

“There isn’t any large incentive to go and reduce the costs,” Piéton mentioned throughout the firm’s first quarter earnings name Thursday, including that Renault doesn’t wish to “go right into a spiral that a few of our competitors is following.”

Together with the primary January value reduce, Tesla has slashed costs in key markets six occasions this 12 months, with the final reduce coming earlier this week in anticipation of the corporate’s earnings name on Wednesday. Tesla missed its gross sales supply estimates final 12 months on account of slowing demand, rising rates of interest, and elevated competitors within the area from fellow EV corporations in addition to conventional automakers getting into the combo, and the value cuts are designed to assist Tesla retain its market share.

However the value cuts are beginning to weigh on Tesla, as they contributed to the 24% drop in internet revenue the corporate reported for the primary quarter on Wednesday. Musk defended Tesla’s strategy throughout the earnings name, saying that larger gross sales and sustaining a big reduce of the EV market share have been a precedence even when it meant dropping income.

“We’ve taken a view that pushing for larger volumes and a bigger fleet is the suitable selection right here, versus a decrease quantity and a better margin,” he mentioned.

Whereas Tesla value cuts may make the model extra accessible to common patrons, probably remedying one of many firm’s greatest limitations lately, buyers have been removed from enthralled with the strategy, with some questioning whether or not the corporate grew too quick over the previous decade. It’s the newest signal Tesla buyers are fearful about Musk’s management on the firm, with some complaining the CEO has turn out to be too distracted with Twitter since buying the corporate late final 12 months. 

However whereas Musk’s plan to maintain Tesla aggressive hinges on larger gross sales numbers and decreased income, corporations like Renault are taking the other strategy. “If it leads to the brief time period in barely decrease volumes, so be it,” Piéton mentioned Thursday of the corporate’s choice to forgo value cuts.

When Tesla started its value cuts in January, analysts mentioned the affect may quantity to a significant shift within the younger EV market by making the autos extra reasonably priced for the common shopper. However legacy carmakers equivalent to Normal Motors and Honda are already transferring ahead with plans for cheaper EVs, and, like Renault, just a few have up to now stayed away from value cuts on their present fashions.

GM, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen have introduced that they don’t seem to be at present contemplating international EV value cuts regardless of Tesla’s strikes, however that would change relying on market situations. Mercedes reduce its EV costs in China final 12 months as demand within the nation stalled, and analysts have warned that if Tesla’s value cuts achieve the long term, legacy carmakers could haven’t any selection however observe go well with.