Could Ford’s Mustang Mach-E Reservation Holders In China Be Cancelling & Switching To Tesla’s New, Lower-Priced Model Y?

I saw an interesting post from Ray4Tesla last week. Ray pointed out that a WeChat group of Mach-E reservation holders changed the group’s profile name to Model Y as soon as Tesla introduced the new Standard Range RWD variant. “The whole group switched their Mach-E reservations to [Model Y],” Ray tweeted. This led him to think that there is an exodus to the Model Y SR RWD from Mach-E reservation holders.

Exodus to Model Y SR RWD is happening? According to @42how_ , a Weichat group of Mach-E reservation holders wasted no time changing its profile name to Model Y upon intro of the SR RWD variant yesterday. The whole group switched their Mach-E reservations to MY. That was so easy😂 https://t.co/1OnvSw35nX pic.twitter.com/WJnXYJdXTm

— Ray (@ray4tesla) July 8, 2021

Ray explained just how competitive Tesla’s new made-in-China Model Y SR RWD is. He noted that the price difference would even cannibalize some of the Model 3 SR+ sales and listed vehicles that would definitely feel the blows of Tesla’s lower-priced, lower-range Model Y:

• Volkswagen ID.4 Crozz
• NIO EC6
• Ford Mustang Mach-E
• Xpeng G3
• BYD Tang EV
• and some ICE crossovers — especially German brands.

BREAKING: @Teslacn has just introduced MIC Model Y Standard Range RWD, starting ¥276k. Est delivery time: August. NEDC range: 525km. 0-100km: 5.6s. Top speed: 217km/h. Most likely it features LFP 🔋 supplied by CATL. This price is after roughly ¥20k EV incentive. Hot Q3 here. https://t.co/iyowoagPlV pic.twitter.com/IZh6HTgev6

— Ray (@ray4tesla) July 8, 2021

The new Tesla Model Y starts at ¥276,000 ($42,664) and deliveries are expected to begin next month. The vehicle has a range of 525 km (NEDC, so unrealistically) and can go from 0–100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. Its top speed is 217 km/h and Ray noted that the vehicle will probably have LFP batteries supplied by CATL. The price, he added, is after taking into account a Chinese subsidy of ~¥20,000 ($3,092).

Ford Mustang Mach-E & New Tesla Model Y SR RWD Price Comparison

As for the answer to the question posed in the headline, we don’t know 100% how consumers are responding, but it appears that many are seeing the value and lower cost for the value of the Model Y and jumping on the Tesla bandwagon. We also know that the Model Y and Mustang Mach-E are nearly head to head on pricing.

Back in April, Ford announced that Ford’s Mustang Mach-E in China was available at prices ranging from 265,000 ($40,963) to 379,000 yuan ($58,585) after subsidies. Tesla’s new variant of the Model Y starts at 276,000 yuan ($42,664), but the vehicle qualifies for subsidies which take another 20,000 yuan ($3,092) off, bringing its price down to 256,000 yuan ($39,572), which makes it even cheaper than the Mustang Mach-E and an ideal choice.