Tesla is almost finished with owners in the US. Notice how fast Tesla went through the employee and owners from California and East Coast. Not many are biting on the most profitable version.
$9000 for 90 miles of extra range.
Premium option for $5000
EAP $5000
FSD $3000
All those options are Hugh profits for Tesla. Tesla will need to produce 5000/week by July or will need to do another round of cash raising.
You have some valid points but you're missing three aspects, AWD, Performance version and leasing...With AWD, some may want it as its assumed it would slightly increase the range, some may want it for the performance aspect, others for weather and others (aka every Subaru owner I know) simply just love AWD...Musk said AWD would be under under $5K so even if that turns out to be $4990, I would imagine overwhelming majority who want the long range battery would prefer AWD over the luxury package...Next we have those who care less about RWD vs AWD and simply want performance, Musk said the 3 would have Ludicrous...Lastly it was reported right here that 80% of EV owners lease, although a small sampling survey conducted by IEV suggested that number to be far less for Tesla owners...Even if that's 50%, that's still HALF...You cannot lease a Model 3 yet through Tesla's lender so many just prefer to wait until they see what the lease rates are...
On the profitability side, for the Model 3, like the non-P 100D vs P100D, same battery but huge price different, a P-Model 3 will be the most profitable model 3...You have Chevy in your name, so I'll factor in Chevy's most profitable vehicle the Silverado...The top trim High Country Silverado is nearly double the MSRP of the base Silverado; right now if I go to Chevy's website it says $96XX off a top trim LTZ Silverado so clearly there's a healthy profit margin there...All major automakers do this, analysts estimate a 20-25% margin on bases on 50% margin on higher trims & options...I've long argued that's how the Bolt and Volt could improve their profitability if they offered a "High Country" or higher trim Volt/Bolt...Since there is a Chevy Silverado High Country instead of GM offering a Cadillac full size pickup truck, we can't say GM tried that with the ELR...Nearly all Chevy vehicles offer a sunroof package, to add one to the Cruze it's $1995, why can't the Bolt/Volt offer that or power-seats as an option? Why doesn't Chevy add a second motor to the Bolt EV for as a $5000 option which would boost profits and appeal to those wanting AWD?