Tesla launches pricey paint alternative in the US

Tesla has expanded its range of available colours for its most popular electric models in the US – but the new hues won’t be painted onto the cars, and come at a significant cost.

Tesla’s US store now includes the option for Model 3 and Model Y owners to select one of seven colours for their electric cars – though only as a vinyl wrap, rather than a proper paint.

The wraps can be added to any 2023 Model Year example of the Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV, with prices ranging from $US7500 to $US8000 – equivalent to $11,700 to $12,500 in Australian currency.

While vinyl wraps by third-party companies in Australia start from about $5000 for equally-sized cars, Tesla claims its wraps are made from a “self-healing urethane-based film [which] protects the paint beneath from chips, scratches and swirling” – suggesting the process is closer to applying a paint protection film (PPF) than just a layer of vinyl.

For context, in Australia Tesla’s cost-option paints (which includes all colours except Pearl White) for the Model Y and Model 3 are priced from $1500 to $2600 – or $US1000 to $US2000 in the car-maker’s home market.

Tesla also offers Model Y and Model 3 owners the choice of having PPF applied to their electric cars without a new colour, with prices starting from $US5000 ($AU7800).

At present, Tesla’s vinyl wraps are only available at the car-maker’s West Covina and Carlsbad service centres in California – with no plans announced to roll out the service in Australia.

Check out the gallery below for the full range of vinyl wraps available for the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.