Tesla Model 3 is outselling Chevy Bolt 9 to 1

[Pushmi-Pullyu]

I'm dragging my feet, but my wife wants to drive 400+ miles this weekend, to buy a Bolt at a reasonable price (approx.36k). The Tesla website says 6 to 9 months before the Model 3 standard battery is available. I assume that is for people who already have reservations, which I don't. When it does become available will it really sell for 35k as promised?

I doubt even Elon Musk could answer that question today. Certainly it's been Tesla's intent to sell a $35k base Model 3, for those who really do want absolutely no options at all (really, how many customers is that?), once it makes sense for Tesla do to so, given the unit cost... which of course is coming down as the production ramps up. Economy of scale and all that. Elon has made it clear that Tesla cannot currently make a profit selling a $35k Model 3, so that's why the base model has been delayed. Tesla and/or Elon have confirmed several times that they still do intend to produce that $35k base model, so all the angst expressed online over that is at best concern trolling, and at worst outright Tesla hater FUD.

However, with the Trumpian out-of-control trade war driving up prices on steel and automobiles, Tesla might have to raise prices across the board, including the base MSRP of $35k for the Model 3.

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[Domenick]

I'm dragging my feet, but my wife wants to drive 400+ miles this weekend, to buy a Bolt at a reasonable price (approx.36k). The Tesla website says 6 to 9 months before the Model 3 standard battery is available. I assume that is for people who already have reservations, which I don't. When it does become available will it really sell for 35k as promised?

Stalling... stalling...

Yeah, that's definitely for people who have reservations. With the $7,500 tax credit getting halved after December, then halved again after June '19, the reservation list might see some amount of shrinkage. Still, I think for new orders the wait is too long if you need a car anytime soon.
If you're lucky, and production continues ramping, you might get delivery in a year from now.

Enjoy your Bolt!

 

[David Green]

Yeah, that's definitely for people who have reservations. With the $7,500 tax credit getting halved after December, then halved again after June '19, the reservation list might see some amount of shrinkage. Still, I think for new orders the wait is too long if you need a car anytime soon.
If you're lucky, and production continues ramping, you might get delivery in a year from now.

Enjoy your Bolt!

With the Model 3 configurator now being opened to all North American buyers, if you are not planning to purchase now, there is no reason not to cancel your reservation and get your $1000 back. All that time waiting in line did nothing for Model 3 35K, AWD, and P model buyers other then give Tesla an interest free loan.

 

[Domenick]

With the Model 3 configurator now being opened to all North American buyers, if you are not planning to purchase now, there is no reason not to cancel your reservation and get your $1000 back. All that time waiting in line did nothing for Model 3 35K, AWD, and P model buyers other then give Tesla an interest free loan.

He doesn't have a reservation.
If he did, though, that would still secure him a place in line. He could then receive his car before those who've ordered more recently.

 

[Pushmi-Pullyu]

With the Model 3 configurator now being opened to all North American buyers, if you are not planning to purchase now, there is no reason not to cancel your reservation and get your $1000 back.

Ah, the latest bit of FUD from the same people who brought you all that other anti-Tesla FUD.

Well of course there is a reason to keep a reservation. Reservation holders will still be served before non-reservation holders, all else being equal. What's confusing is that Tesla isn't prioritizing reservation holders; they're prioritizing other things such as those willing to pay cash, those closest to the Fremont assembly plant, and those willing to order the specific package of options which Tesla is pushing. Currently that's the Performance trim levels.

Having a reservation isn't without value, but that value is less than we thought, because Tesla didn't make clear how it ranked the criteria it's using to assign a production slot. It appears that having a reservation has the lowest priority of the several factors. At least, that's my guess based on a great deal of discussion about the subject. Maybe a reservation isn't the very lowest priority criteria, but at least it appears it's lower than most if not all of the others.

 

[bwilson4web]

What's confusing is that Tesla isn't prioritizing reservation holders;

Apparently the reservation was not a queue but a list from which:

• they're prioritizing other things such as those willing to pay cash,
• those closest to the Fremont assembly plant, and
• those willing to order the specific package of options which Tesla is pushing. Currently that's the Performance trim levels.

The first reduces the risk of a loan default loss. The second reduces transportation cost and delay. The third optimizes Tesla profit.

Bob Wilson