Musk says Tesla could lower car prices if inflation slows

18 July 2022 - 07:06
By Reuters
Tesla has raised car prices a number of times in the past few months as costs of raw materials used in cars and batteries surge.
Image: Scott Olson/Getty Images Tesla has raised car prices a number of times in the past few months as costs of raw materials used in cars and batteries surge.

Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk said on Friday the electric automaker could lower prices for cars if inflation calms down.

Musk, who has more than 100-million followers on Twitter, was replying to a tweet on Friday that asked if the company had plans to lower prices that it had raised to beat the Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain woes.

"If inflation calms down, we can lower prices for cars," Musk replied.

Tesla has raised car prices a number of times in the past few months by a few thousand dollars as costs of raw materials for aluminium to lithium used in cars and batteries surge, while automakers struggle to source chips and other supplies due to an industry-wide shortage.

Musk, the world's richest person, in recent weeks warned about the risk of a recession and said he had a "super bad feeling" about the economy.

US consumer prices jumped 9.1% to a nearly 41-year high in June as gasoline and food costs remained elevated. The surge spells tough times for companies looking to cut costs and alter their hiring plans.