Americans earned $200 billion from Trump’s tariffs and paid… Americans. In Poland the same mechanism applies: high tariffs, the złoty exchange rate and importer margins push the cost of the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4 onto drivers.
Who would have thought that the boundary of a Polish budget looks much like a Chinese tea bill – seemingly small, but full of holes. Meanwhile, Americans earned $200 billion from Trump’s tariffs and paid… Americans. Yes, you heard right – no one else. Because exporters, instead of cutting prices, simply reduced exports. As the Kiel Institute puts it: “We, Americans, pay for our own political own goal.”
So what does this have to do with Tesla and Volkswagen in Poland? Everything! The same market mechanics – imports, prices, tariffs – operate here, in our beloved Poland.
Here is the Tesla Model Y 2026 in the Polish showroom. The RWD version starts at 184,990 PLN (64.5 kWh, WLTP range 534 km, 0–100 km/h in 7.2 s). The Standard Long Range RWD offers more than 650 km of range for 209,990 PLN. The Premium AWD is 229,990 PLN for roughly 600 km of range and 440 HP. At the top sits the Performance AWD: 460 HP, 580 km of range, a stunning 3.5 s to 100 km/h, all for 269,990 PLN.
If anyone thought tariffs were Trump’s invention, look at the duty and the złoty exchange rate. Tesla adds its margin, and we pay – with a smile.
The Volkswagen ID.4 in Pure Performance trim costs 162,790 PLN; the Pro Performance is 220,390 PLN; the Pro 4MOTION all-wheel drive is 230,390 PLN; and the GTX is 269,390 PLN. Pro Performance offers 496 km of range, 204 HP and a 77 kWh net battery. The GTX reaches 100 km/h in 6.2 s with 452 km of range – at a price not much lower than the top-of-the-range Tesla.
In short: just like Americans, Poles pay. High tariffs, the złoty exchange rate and importer margins – all of this lands on us, not on the manufacturers. Tesla raised prices for the Model Y and Model 3 in Poland – the base Model Y at 204,990 PLN, Long Range around 214,990 PLN, Performance at 224,990 PLN or more, depending on the source. And what? We keep buying.
Just as the Kiel Institute notes, importers do not undercut prices – they prefer to sell less. Less export, higher price – and again we pay.
Tesla introduced the new Model Y – the Standard Long Range RWD version – in January 2026 at 209,990 PLN, with deliveries starting in February. WLTP range above 650 km and 175 kW charging. Sounds great? Yes, until you check your bank account.
The ID.4 Pro Performance costs 220,390 PLN and offers 496 km of range. Tesla gives you 600 km for that money. So either we are naïve, or we pay a premium for the badge.
Summary
Tariffs, duties and exchange rates are not economic theory – they are a hard fact that hits the wallet. We pay more, while importers pretend to be doing something about it. We are hostages to a mechanism that levies taxes on us while pretending we accept them willingly.
If you think importers are losing out – you are wrong. You are the ones losing – in your pocket. Next time you see a Tesla priced at 269,990 PLN, remember – that is not a free-market price. That is a price we accept.
The Tesla Model Y starts at 184,990 PLN, while the Volkswagen ID.4 Pure Performance costs 162,790 PLN. Price differences may stem from different manufacturer pricing strategies and import costs.
High prices result from many factors, including high tariffs, exchange rates and importer margins. All of this means Poles pay significantly more for electric cars than their counterparts in other countries.
The most popular models in Poland are the Tesla Model Y, Volkswagen ID.4 and other models offering more than 400 km of range. Buyers often consider both range and price.
| Model | Price (PLN) | Range (km) | Power (HP) | 0-100 km/h (s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 184990 | 534 | 440 | 3.5 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 162790 | 496 | 204 | 6.2 |
| Toyota bZ4X | 200000 | 450 | 215 | 7.5 |
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