It is so rare that it deserves to be underlined.
Elon Musk and Tesla (TSLA) – Get the Tesla Inc report never back down in the face of adversity. The electric vehicle (EV) maker, for example, has made two price hikes on its cars since the start of the year as similar moves by rivals sparked an outcry from consumers.
However, after a TheStreet story reporting that electric vehicle maker Tesla had implemented an ingenious trick to entice Tesla car customers to pay more, the company backtracked. At the time of writing, the trick in question is no longer in place.
In an article published on March 25 titled “Tesla and Musk use an ingenious trick to entice buyers to pay more”, we wrote that Tesla had a clever mechanism in place that allowed Tesla customers to dramatically shorten the wait time for their new vehicle.
To shorten delivery times, customers had to add the company’s premium fully autonomous driver assistance system at a cost of $12,000.
When they have chosen the FSD option, the delivery time is reduced from June to August 2022 to May to July 2022 for the Model 3, for example.
For the Model Y SUV, the delivery time has been shortened between June and September 2022 compared to October 2022 and January 2023.
It is no longer possible to shorten the delivery times of Tesla
The delivery time could be shortened up to a maximum of seven months. Some smart shoppers have managed to get around the trick. Since the FSD capability is just software as opposed to a physical part that needs to be installed, some customers ordered the driver assistance system option and then canceled it just before the release date. (shortened) delivery of the vehicle.
To be sure: the FSD function allows Tesla cars to perform maneuvers on their own, but it does not make these vehicles autonomous, warns and reiterates Tesla. “Features currently enabled require active driver supervision and do not make the vehicle self-driving,” the company said.
The trick no longer exists. Now when you order for example a Tesla Model 3 even adding the FSD capability, the delivery date remains between June and August 2022 and no longer from May to June as TheStreet had observed and revealed.
When the model Y SUV, when you place an order now, the delivery date from October 2022 to January 2023 no longer moves with or without FSD.
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Tesla gives no explanation.
Faced with an imbalance between supply and demand for electric vehicles and well-filled order books, automotive groups are trying to find a way to produce more despite the disruptions in supply chains and the surge in raw materials in order to satisfy the EV buyers.
Tesla is by far the leading manufacturer of electric vehicles with soon to be four factories — Fremont in California, Shanghai, Berlin in Germany and soon Austin in Texas –.
Customer complaints about Tesla
TheStreet received various testimonials from Tesla customers complaining about the trick. Chris Roat, for example, tells TheStreet that he and his wife, Sue Wang, originally included FSD on a Model Y order placed on Jan. 13.
“We ordered it in January and received an October/November delivery date — so it wasn’t like we added FSD for early delivery! Interestingly, our delivery date was recently pushed back to March/April (meaning: now!),” he said.
Roat shared with TheStreet the text messages they had with a Tesla representative. In a message sent on March 16, the representative asked if they could take delivery of their vehicle in March.
“Update from Tesla – We are currently planning to build and deliver your Model Y in March. Please reply MARS if you are ready for delivery this month and we will contact you to schedule your delivery once your Model Y is built” , wrote a Tesla representative. “Please answer DIFFERENTLY if you cannot take delivery this month and we will get back to you later.”
They answered “march”.
“We’ve been scrambling to sell stocks, move money between accounts and prepare enough cash to take delivery,” Roat told TheStret.
But, “Discussing with a Tesla agent, we dropped FSD. For us, the decision was purely based on value versus cost – we thought we’d only use one or two features, and it wasn’t worth it. the price (of $10,000, at the time of our order),” Roat said.
“Because the changes could cause delays, I specifically asked if our delivery date would change. I was told no, as it was just a software change that we requested. But a few days later , our delivery has been pushed back to June/July.”
Their delivery date changed immediately. Roat and his wife will now take possession of their vehicle between June 17 and July 29, according to a latest update from Tesla seen by TheStreet.
