Just to propose a balance between waitlist vs. immediate gratification, it appears Tesla doesn't want to become just another carmaker with dealerships that have massive lots full of unsold cars, and instead give buyers the opportunity to custom-order their car in exchange for an acceptable wait. But this need not preclude immediate sales given that they would be both premium in price and non-custom. In a mature marketplace there may be a balance between those wanting a car immediately and willing to pay the maximum price and not specific to color/details/etc. with others wanting a custom order for cost and/or specific details and willing to wait a month or two for it. It's the early days so that balance is not there yet, but we might imagine that would be a happy medium. The notion of "jumping the line" will simply go away. I know I'd be willing to wait for exactly what I wanted at the specific price-point, even knowing that others might buy a readymade option directly from the showroom floor. This is the case with all car dealerships, just that Tesla would tend toward custom orders and a lean overhead.
Last edited: