Following Tesla, Musk’s SpaceX and Starlink Hike Prices Due to ‘Rising Inflation’
Written by
Yaël Bizouati-Kennedy
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Nicholas Morine
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First it was Tesla. Now it’s SpaceX. The company has announced it is raising prices for rocket launches and its Starlink satellite internet service, citing “excessive levels of inflation” affecting both businesses.
Both Tesla and SpaceX’s price hikes come on the heels of Elon Musk’s March 14 tweets in which he asked his followers: “What are your thoughts about probable inflation rate over next few years?” He added in a subsequent tweet, “Tesla & SpaceX are seeing significant recent inflation pressure in raw materials & logistics,” as GOBankingRates previously reported.
Per an email obtained by CNBC, SpaceX sent notices to Starlink users and deposit holders noting the higher prices.
“The sole purpose of these adjustments is to keep pace with rising inflation,” the Starlink email read.
CNBC reports that Starlink’s baseline monthly service price will increase by 11%, to $110 from $99 per month, effective May 21. The price of the baseline Starlink hardware will jump by 10%, to $549 from $499, for users who placed a deposit but are on SpaceX’s waiting list for service.
For new orders, the company increased the base hardware price by 20%, to $599 from $499, CNBC added.
Earlier this month, the cost of some Tesla models increased by a range of 4% to 7%, with the price of a rear-wheel-drive Tesla Model 3 now at $47,000 — up from about $45,000. Dual-motor long-range and performance versions are now about $54,500 and $62,000, respectively. Those prices moved up by about $3,500 and $3,000, respectively. A long-range Model Y now starts at about $63,000, up from $59,000. The performance version now starts at about $68,000, up from $64,000, Barron’s reports.
SpaceX exec Tom Ochinero told CNBC the price increases were “long overdue and it’s just the cost of everything. I don’t even think that covers the cost of everything we’re experiencing, everything from helium to gas to my humans — you got to pay people so much now, it’s such a competitive market.”
SpaceX also raised prices across its launch business, with increases affecting everything from wholesale rocket purchases to small satellites hitching a ride to orbit, CNBC added. Now, the starting prices for a Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy rocket will each increase by about 8%. A Falcon 9 launch will cost $67 million, up from $62 million, and a Falcon Heavy launch will now run $97 million, up from $90 million.
