These 8 Countries Have VERY FEW Teslas (Here’s Why)

More countries than not in the world today have their roads dominated by Tesla cars, but there are some whose roads are still devoid of them.

The following is a list of some countries, without the said car and why.

1. South Africa

Tesla cars are currently not sold in South Africa. The only means to get one is to buy one from another country and import it. Once the car is bought, it can then be shipped to the country.

Importing a Tesla model into the country is a long and complicated process. A list of requirements must be met, the most important being that the car must be a highlight-handle, and dues paid.

The country’s high import fees make the overall process an expensive, but a possible one.

While the electric car company has no plans to sell cars in the country yet, there are other electric cars and charging stations available there. So, soon Tesla cars may yet grace South African roads.

2. Turkey

Tesla cars aren’t officially sold in Turkey. There are no official stores, but it can be imported from other countries. The owners would not have access to charging stations and other facilities.

Turkish drivers have asked for Tesla stores in the country for years. So, in 2018, Tesla, Inc. was set to open up shop in Turkey. However, a trade war ensued between the country and Washington.

As a result of the trade war, the Turkish lira fell in value against the US dollar and drastically increased import fees. This led to the abandonment of the plans to set up shop.

Tesla, Inc. has recently gotten approval to establish its supercharger network, from the country’s energy management regulatory committee (EMRC). This only means that Teslas will be found on Turkish roads in due time.

3. Nigeria

Tesla cars aren’t found in Nigeria for several reasons. The primary reason is that it isn’t sold in the country, but has to be imported.

Importation of Tesla cars into the country can be very expensive. The Nigerian naira is low in value to the US dollar. So, buying from other countries, and paying import duty and taxes, makes the pricey cars even more pricey.

What’s more, Tesla cars also get more expensive as time passes.

Another reason is the absence of supercharging stations. Nigeria is a developing country, and as such, they lack the infrastructure and energy to use electric cars.

An inconsistent power supply also adds to the list. The constant power outages would limit Tesla owners.

4. Marshall Islands

The Marshall Islands is a group of islands separated by water. It consists of 5 individual islands, further separated into about 1200 tiny islands.

The total population is an estimated 60,000.

Major means of transportation are by boats and air. So, the major reason for the absence of Tesla cars here is the non-existent need. The citizens have no major need for cars, as most of their transportation isn’t done on roads.

There are very few cars in the country. Most rentals are used by tourists, and Tesla models aren’t part of them.

5. North Korea

It is officially called the Democratic people’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). A country located in Eastern Asia.

There are no Tesla cars in this country and the reason is the history of hostility between the country and the United States.

Both countries have no diplomatic relations with each other.

The United States has imposed sanctions on North Korea. Many of the sanctions were imposed due to North Korea’s nuclear testing activities, which began in 2006. It blocks them from being able to import from, or export to, the United States.

Executive order 13722 in 2016 prohibits the exportation and re-exportation of goods, services, and new technology to North Korea.

EOs are given by presidents of the United States.

Tesla, Inc. is an American-owned and operated company. As such, its cars cannot be found on North Korean roads.

6. Madagascar

Madagascar is an island country, situated in the Indian Ocean off the coast of southern Africa.

Tesla cars are yet to get into the country for several reasons. The main reason is the unstable electricity situation in the country.

More than 80 percent of the population in this country live in rural areas, with less than 10 percent access to electricity and Teslas are electric cars.

Another reason is the poor situation of the roads in Madagascar. It has one of the least developed road networks in the world. More than half of the roads in this country are in bad condition.

Paved roads are not available in some cities, driving at moderate or high speeds is dangerous, and the rate of car collision fatalities is one of the highest in the world.

Madagascar lacks the energy and infrastructure to use electric cars.

7. Laos

Laos is a country located in Southeastern Asia. It is the only landlocked country in that part of the world. Tesla cars aren’t available for sale in this country. It is neither manufactured nor sold there.

This country lacks the necessary infrastructure to use Tesla cars. There are no charging stations, and the poor road networks attribute to the absence of these cars. It has the lowest transport infrastructure of the countries in Southeastern Asia.

The landscape of this country consists mostly of rugged mountains, and landslides pose a significant hazard to many roads. The easiest means of transportation is by air.

The Laos government is aiming to increase the number of electric vehicles in the country by one percent in 2025 and 30 percent in 2030. A policy was approved to support this.

What About India?

Tesla was late to introduce it’s lineup in India, but today (updated 2023) you can easily get your hands on a Tesla models in India.

Additional Information

A lot of people are leaning more in the direction of Tesla vehicles, but there are some arguments against cars.

Many complain about the high price tag, with the least expensive one, the model 3 selling at $42,990, and the other models selling for way more. This is higher than the average price of a gas-powered vehicle.

Some others complain about how expensive Teslas are to repair and maintain.

There are complaints about the range of the batteries. The latest models have an increased range, but it still falls short of the range of gas-powered cars.

Tesla drivers also have to worry about finding a charging station when they need one, especially in rural areas.

Ultimately, the biggest limitations of the Tesla vehicles are its sparse charging stations.

Final Thoughts

Electric vehicles are safer to use and better for the environment. They emit fewer greenhouse gases and air pollutants than gas-powered vehicles.

They are also more efficient and charging an electric vehicle costs less than fueling a car.

Tesla cars dominate the electric vehicle sector, and they are direct-to-consumer sales, making them a favorite amongst customers.

Judging by their fast growth rate and the world’s response to electric vehicles, in the next few years, Tesla cars will be found in almost all parts of the world.

However, until they become well spread out, Tesla Roadside Assistance may not work well in all countries.

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