Tesla Model 3

[freebeard]

...an upswell technique...

A tsunami lifts all boats... and then dashes them?

[RedDevil]

The difference is that Tesla does have a fully functional production line ready, is making the cars, is planning on up-scaling and has proved with the Model S and X that they can pull it off.

The production is limited as they are still testing and checking the production process and will only upscale when they are confident it is running OK. Some of the teething problems may only reveal themselves when the cars get used in the real world, so it is unwise to produce in large numbers yet - don't want to do a series of recalls on a large number of cars...
Then, the extra's are just that - extras. But they do boost profit while the number of cars produced stays the same. And they double as testers for those extras.

In a year Tesla will produce 10,000 cars a week. Until then, they serve those who paid the most first. Makes sense to me.

[NeilBlanchard]

How often does ANY car get about 400,000 pre-orders? A lot of people put down $1,000 - it must be a pretty amazing car, I'd say.

The long range Model 3 has the lowest cost / mile of any EV so far - $141.94 / mile of range. The Bolt EV is next at $157.55 / mile, followed by the standard Model 3 at $159.09 / mile.

This car is YUUUUUUGE, and very important in automotive history.

[sendler]

Demand for the exclusive supercharging network. Many of the 400,000 deposit holders will back out now that they see the real price.

[NeilBlanchard]

The "real" price? Everybody knew the base price is $35,000 - and it is.

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

The "real" price? Everybody knew the base price is $35,000 - and it is in a year or more

I will take a quarter pounder today but pay for the Big Mac since the quarter pounder is over a year out, even though the Big Mac may be tainted with salmonella but they will pay for my hospitalization so it's fine

[rmay635703]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

How often does ANY car get about 400,000 pre-orders? A lot of people put down $1,000 - it must be a pretty amazing car, I'd say.

The long range Model 3 has the lowest cost / mile of any EV so far - $141.94 / mile of range. The Bolt EV is next at $157.55 / mile, followed by the standard Model 3 at $159.09 / mile.

This car is YUUUUUUGE, and very important in automotive history.

Most serious companies won't even take
Pre orders,

For a long time Toyota had a ban on factory orders requiring you to take what was on the lot.

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

Most serious companies won't even take
Pre orders,

For a long time Toyota had a ban on factory orders requiring you to take what was on the lot.

Tesla does not have a dealer network like most car companies have. So there is no lot to pick cars from. Also, Tesla is very much in development. While backed by the billions of its founder and several big companies, it is ever in demand of more funding to grow.

Teslas are in high demand too; the resale value exceeds the list price substantially, at least here in Holland. In such a market a pre-order is an asset.

Big companies do not shy away from pre-orders if the conditions are right.
One of my friends has a brother who bought one of the first Mercedes SLK Roadsters on pre-order. Drove it for one day, then resold it at a handsome profit; as planned...
The conditions were right for Mercedes then, and Tesla now.

[sendler]

Nobody that jumped in with their $1,000 to get an early spot in line new at the time that only loaded cars would be built for the first year. And nobody had any idea about the vast difference between the price of a loaded car and the stripped car. $5,000 for the premium package, $8,000 for the autonomous packages. $9,000 for an extra 100 miles range.

[RedDevil]

A top spec model 3 still is cheaper than a base model S.
I don't expect buyers remorse from anyone who pre-ordered a Model 3.
Not the 3, no...