I've listened to different opinions and even changed my own opinions on this over time, but I'm becoming convinced that these delivery schedules are largely, if not wholly driven by profit margin. At the current demand and production, it shouldn't take 3+ months to get a Model Y, but here we are.
At one point, I suspected transportation bottlenecks were to blame, but I don't see storage lots overflowing at Austin or Fremont. These 1,000+ Model Ys they're making every day are going somewhere.
I just get the dreaded suspicion that newer orders at higher prices are being prioritized and only if and when demand slows down will Tesla start delivering lower-priced orders that were placed from Jan 12 to Feb 4 which may not happen unless the $7,500 tax credit reduces or ends on Apr 18.
I believe Tesla dropped the prices too much on Jan 12 and they're trying to discourage those lowest-margin orders that are still outstanding by introducing artificial delays. From a profit standpoint, it's better if a low-margin buyer cancels their order so that vehicle can go to a higher-margin buyer. There's enough demand so that even if Tesla pisses off tens of thousands of buyers, there are even more buyers waiting in line to pay a higher price.
If I canceled my order, this would not be a "lost sale" because my vehicle will be sold to someone else. I would not be a "lost customer" because I was never a Tesla customer to begin with - I am only a prospective customer until I actually take delivery.
From a buyer's perspective, this is maddening, but to a for-profit corporation - it's just business. If I were Tesla, I'd probably make the same decisions they are - do what's best for the financial benefit of the company and its investors even if that means not gaining some new customers.
It's easy to think, "Yeah, but if Tesla would just deliver the car I ordered at the price I agreed to pay in a fair amount of time, I'd be a happy camper and would be more inclined to buy more Teslas in the future, but if they sit on my order in an attempt to get me to pay more than I originally agreed to, I'll take my business elsewhere." And, that may be true, but churn happens with all brands.
next car is probably non tesla ev.
