Skip to main content

Tesla changes its standard paint color from black to white

Elon Musk has announced that Tesla is going to increase the price of its black paint option, which was until now the only standard paint color for the Model 3, S, and X.

A white paint option is going to become the new standard paint option.

“Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black,” that’s what Henry Ford supposedly said when asked why Ford was not offering different colors for the Model T.

When first launching the Model 3, Tesla only made a black color option standard and everything cost a $1,000 or more premium – sort of following in FOrd’s footstep.

Much like Ford’s obsession with efficiency, Tesla also limited the option to streamline production.

Later, Tesla also eliminated some other paint options to increase production efficiency.

Now Musk says that black is going to also cost an additional $1,000:

It was a weird way to announce the change since it basically disguised an overall base price increase of $1,000 on Model 3 and across its lineup, but the CEO later confirmed that Tesla will have another “simple white” color option.

Tesla already offers a white, but it’s a “Pearl White Multi-Coat”, which comes with a $1,500 premium for Model 3 and $2,000 for Model S and Model X.

The automaker would have to introduce a new white.

In the past, Tesla was offering a standard white for Model S and Model X.

Electrek’s Take

This is an interesting move.

Black and white are the two most popular colors for cars in the US:

Therefore, it shouldn’t have a major impact long term. Of course, it will depend on how good the “simple white” paint that Tesla will come out with, but I expect that it will be just fine.

In the short term though, it should help give a slight boost to sales, which I believe is the goal of this announcement since Elon put a deadline at the end of the quarter for the change.

Buyers on the fence who were planning to buy the standard black have a new incentive to buy now otherwise they will see the price of their configuration increase by $1,000.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Stay up to date with the latest content by subscribing to Electrek on Google News. You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about Tesla, electric vehicles, and green energy, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow Electrek on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our YouTube channel for the latest reviews.

Comments

Author

Avatar for Fred Lambert Fred Lambert

Fred is the Editor in Chief and Main Writer at Electrek.

You can send tips on Twitter (DMs open) or via email: fred@9to5mac.com

Through Zalkon.com, you can check out Fred’s portfolio and get monthly green stock investment ideas.


Manage push notifications

notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications
notification icon
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
notification icon
You are subscribed to notifications