General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTesla Model Y is coming to customers ahead of schedule and with extra range
While Tesla's Model Y launch didn't necessarily have the kind of impact that the company was able to achieve with its later Cybertruck launch, it's still going to be an incredibly important car for the brand, especially given the popularity of SUVs and crossovers with American buyers.
We've known that the Model Y would share a large portion of its components with Model 3, but we were disappointed when Tesla initially announced that its top-tier range would be under 300 miles -- range is arguably one of Tesla's biggest selling points after all -- but now it would seem that the Big T found a way to stretch that out a bit.
The company announced the range boost in its Q4 2019 earnings report, stating that, "Due to continued engineering progress of the Model Y all-wheel drive (AWD), we have been able to increase its maximum EPA range to 315 miles, compared to our previous estimate of 280 miles."
We asked Tesla for more details on what exactly was changed to increase the vehicle's efficiency, but representatives from the company declined to comment further. If we were going to bet on it, we'd guess that the boost comes from changes to the software that powers the car, rather than on a physical change to hardware. We've seen software-based range increases before, so it wouldn't be a surprise if this was another case of that.
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/tesla-model-y-coming-early-extra-range/
Baclava
(12,047 posts)BSdetect
(8,999 posts)How many buyers would qualify for using the tax credit given the standard deduction level?
Insurance for Teslas seems pretty high and parts are expensive.
Buying one is not as attractive as at first glance.
Iwasthere
(3,170 posts)Very affordable. Immaculate condition, paid $6000.00 I get 65 miles on a charge. A quick charge takes 15 minutes. So much fun to drive.
Ilsa
(61,698 posts)Between going to work, picking up kids after school and taking them to lessons and practices, he was down to his last electron at the end of the day. A range of only 65 miles didn't work for him. Glad it worked for you, though.
Iwasthere
(3,170 posts)When I'm sitting (chargers are everywhere now) I replenish the batteries, even if it's only 10 minutes. So in reality I can drive twice that much.
MineralMan
(146,329 posts)How many of those will replace an internal combustion engine?
The answers to those two questions will determine what impact is made by that model of Tesla.
It's a $50,000+ car. Who will buy it? Will those customers really buy it for its environmental impact? I doubt that very much.
Baclava
(12,047 posts)I dont think they will have that magical 300 mi range though, a bigger battery is the always the most expensive option.
pimpbot
(940 posts)Overall, Tesla has sold 900k electric cars. The last quarter they sold just over 100k and about 350k for 2019. They are approaching the sales BMW had in North America last year. Not a complete comparison since Telsa sales include a small number in Europe and Asia.
They are projecting 400k+ for 2020 with production capacity of 500k. Those that are in the market for a 3 series, lexus 3xx, etc will also look at Tesla.
denem
(11,045 posts)Like the Model 3, it will be delayed 2-3 quarters in to allow Tesla catch up on projected economies of scale.