Tesla shortens wait times for all available models in China
It's rare for Tesla to shorten the expected delivery dates for all models at once. The popular Model Y entry-level version now has a wait time of about 2 months.
(Vehicle information displayed on Tesla's China website on August 18.)
Tesla has shortened the expected local delivery times for all China-made models, with the highly popular Model Y entry-level version having a wait time of about 2 months.
Tesla's Shanghai plant currently produces only the Model 3 and Model Y, with the former offered in two versions and the latter in three.
Currently, the expected delivery times for both the rear-wheel drive entry-level Tesla Model 3 and the dual-motor all-wheel drive Model 3 Performance are 12-16 weeks, according to Tesla's China website.
Previously the expected delivery dates for these two Model 3 versions were 14-18 weeks and 16-20 weeks, respectively.
The latest expected delivery date for the rear-wheel drive entry-level Model Y is 4-8 weeks, a four-week reduction from the previous 8-12 weeks.
The expected delivery date for the dual-motor, all-wheel drive Model Y Long Rang is 16-20 weeks, four weeks shorter than the previous 20-24 weeks.
The expected delivery date for the two-motor, all-wheel drive Model Y Performance is 12-16 weeks, also four weeks shorter than the previous 16-20 weeks.
The last change in expected delivery times for Tesla vehicles was on August 10, when the company shortened the wait time for the Model 3 entry-level version in China by 2 weeks.
(Vehicle information displayed on Tesla's China website on August 10.)
It is rare for Tesla to shorten the expected delivery dates for all models at once, even though the price and specification information for these models has not changed.
This may be due to a significant increase in capacity at Giga Shanghai following recent production line upgrades.
According to multiple media reports earlier this month, Tesla upgraded its production line at Giga Shanghai between late July and early August, and will expand its annual production capacity to around 1.1-1.2 million units after the upgrade is completed.
On July 20, Tesla's second-quarter earnings report showed that Giga Shanghai now has an annual capacity of more than 750,000 units, making it Tesla's largest factory in the world.
On August 13, Giga Shanghai saw its one millionth production vehicle roll off the production line.
In China, consumers have traditionally preferred roomier SUVs. With the expected delivery time for the entry-level Model Y shortened to just about 2 months, sales of the model are expected to see significant growth.
From January to July this year, Model 3 retail sales in China were 64,730 units, down 29.12 percent from 91,322 units in the same period last year, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
Model Y sales in China for the same period were 141,306 units, up 192.41 percent from 48,324 units in the same period last year.
Tesla delivered only 821 Model 3s and 7,640 Model Ys in China in July due to production line upgrades.
Even so, the Model Y still ranked No. 1 in China from January to July in sales of high-end SUVs starting at more than RMB 300,000 ($44,400), according to the CPCA.
Tesla sells 28,217 China-made vehicles in July, down 64% from June