Found a LOT of Model 3's in a Tesla lot - Pictures inside

[RTPEV]

At 2 pm on May 22, 2018 I recorded a video drive by of Tesla Factory's new car buffer and carrier loading area. Here's my video slowed-down 4x to make it easier to count the cars and carriers:

Note this is recorded about 6 hours after augkuo's morning photos.

Enjoy your morning parking lot porn!

Russ
Exuberantly Long TSLA since 8/4/2011 @ $25.10! Most recent add-on was 4/2/2018 @ $245.

PS. On Sunday around 5 pm I was driving southbound on I-880 when I saw 5 carriers x 9 cars = 45 vehicles heading northbound within about 15 minutes! I was really stoked!! I need to add a dash cam to my X to capture stuff like this...

You guys need to get those Google Street View attachments for your car roofs to get the camera a little higher!

 

[T34ME]

There is no need to stop production to stay under 200k, it is how many they sell, not how many they build. The shutdown is for further improvements of the assembly line.

I disagree, it is not how many they sell, it is how many they deliver. They may be shutting down the line because they have no place to store those cars that are sold but they want to avoid delivering.

 

[MidnightRider]

You guys need to get those Google Street View attachments for your car roofs to get the camera a little higher!

I agree! I thought the 2nd carrier was being pulled by the Tesla Semi for a second. Then I thought it was the Thor company trolling Tesla.

 

[mongo]

I disagree, it is not how many they sell, it is how many they deliver. They may be shutting down the line because they have no place to store those cars that are sold but they want to avoid delivering.

EV tax credit is sales based. Tesla does not sell cars until they are in the hands of the new owner (at home delivery timing slightly different).

Plug In Electric Vehicle Credit IRC 30 and IRC 30D | Internal Revenue Service

The qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle credit phases out for a manufacturer’s vehicles over the one-year period beginning with the second calendar quarter after the calendar quarter in which at least 200,000 qualifying vehicles manufactured by that manufacturer have been sold for use in the United States (determined on a cumulative basis for sales after December 31, 2009) (“phase-out period”).

 

[TT97]

I disagree, it is not how many they sell, it is how many they deliver. They may be shutting down the line because they have no place to store those cars that are sold but they want to avoid delivering.

I started typing sold vs delivered and Mongo stole my thunder. As far as storing, there are thousands of lots/places Tesla can find to park the vehicles short term until July 1 (just ask VW), they are not going to let the factory go idle waiting for July 1.

 

[MidnightRider]

interesting. Didn't realize it was only for sales starting in 2010. That's why some of Roadsters are not included

 

[T34ME]

EV tax credit is sales based. Tesla does not sell cars until they are in the hands of the new owner

That is correct, that is my point. When a purchaser commits to a $3500 non-refundable deposit, Tesla commits that car. The car is not sold until it is delivered at a delivery center (or wherever) where financing is finalized, papers signed, and car is handed over. The car is then "sold" in terms of the IRS tax credit. I believe the line shutdown will accomplish a number of things including line improvements as well as solving a storage problem for cars that are produced but Tesla does not want to deliver to the new owner and "sell", to avoid triggering the 200K threshold in June.

 

[T34ME]

As far as storing, there are thousands of lots/places Tesla can find to park the vehicles short term until July 1 (just ask VW), they are not going to let the factory go idle waiting for July 1.

They won't let the factory go idle, and they do have capacity to store some cars, but nobody knows how many. OR they could send most of June production to Canada (maybe 15K) which should make our Canadian amigos very happy, but I think most them are waiting for AWD. I am convinced Elon is managing the 200K threshold to occur in early July.

 

[Reddy Kilowatt]

I agree so why isn't the lot full of cars as well as all the drive lanes. I would think Tesla would be building as many as possible. I agree there not sold until there delivered. A lot the east coast stuff could spend the month on a train east bound filing up as many dealers as possible, Just don't deliver any.

 

[drawfour]

In Texas, the entire amount of paperwork (i.e. full transfer of money to Tesla, etc...) must be completed before they will ship it from Fremont. And to the IRS, it's not "delivered" but "put into service", which means basically when you drive it off the lot. So perhaps they will get a whole bunch of cars from Texas lined up in June to get cash flow in for the quarter, but the cars won't be delivered until July 1. Meh, who knows. I just am positive Tesla will be pushing it until Jul 1 to ensure we get 2 full quarters left of the full rebate.

 

[Moderatefan]

I agree so why isn't the lot full of cars as well as all the drive lanes. I would think Tesla would be building as many as possible. I agree there not sold until there delivered. A lot the east coast stuff could spend the month on a train east bound filing up as many dealers as possible, Just don't deliver any.

Filling up parking lots should be the last step.
First, they need to send as many as possible to Canada, since it's extended delivery time; then focus on the people, who already configured in U.S. - half of those got bumped to July, but half will get June delivery(under 200k). After that they will be filling the lots. Likely, this will start in June with first cars going all the way East.

 

[mongo]

They won't let the factory go idle, and they do have capacity to store some cars, but nobody knows how many. OR they could send most of June production to Canada (maybe 15K) which should make our Canadian amigos very happy, but I think most them are waiting for AWD. I am convinced Elon is managing the 200K threshold to occur in early July.

Yah, they could retool and start making AWD/ P for Canada. A little slowness in production helps the 200k number, then se

In Texas, the entire amount of paperwork (i.e. full transfer of money to Tesla, etc...) must be completed before they will ship it from Fremont. And to the IRS, it's not "delivered" but "put into service", which means basically when you drive it off the lot. So perhaps they will get a whole bunch of cars from Texas lined up in June to get cash flow in for the quarter, but the cars won't be delivered until July 1. Meh, who knows. I just am positive Tesla will be pushing it until Jul 1 to ensure we get 2 full quarters left of the full rebate.

One caveat. The criteria for the 200,000th car for EV credit trigger may not be the same as the criteria for claiming the tax credit.

Example: Tesla sells the car June 30, but owner does not pick it up till July 3 due to shipping. Counts as a sale (I believe), but not put into service (buyer could not drive it).

 

[drawfour]

One caveat. The criteria for the 200,000th car for EV credit trigger may not be the same as the criteria for claiming the tax credit.

Example: Tesla sells the car June 30, but owner does not pick it up till July 3 due to shipping. Counts as a sale (I believe), but not put into service (buyer could not drive it).

'Tis a good point, and I was only half-joking. Sorry, Texas! Back of the line to you!

 

[GaryW]

View attachment 303442 View attachment 303443 View attachment 303444 View attachment 303445 View attachment 303446 5/24/18 around 8:30am - 9 car carriers loading (3 local)

Your pictures are a daily highlight for me.

Thanks!

 

[Reddy Kilowatt]

Electrek is reporting large parking lot full of three's in Canada. Approx. 1000 cars and at least two car carriers.

Tesla sent out a massive Model 3 shipment to Canada as some US deliveries get delayed

 

[sooner]

Beat me to it @Reddy Kilowatt was about to post that. They are going to deliver a lot of model 3s in Canada soon, maybe 12-15k in this quarter. Likely highest selling car in Canada for Q2.

 

[Dogwhistle]

Beat me to it @Reddy Kilowatt was about to post that. They are going to deliver a lot of model 3s in Canada soon, maybe 12-15k in this quarter. Likely highest selling car in Canada for Q2.

You think they are going to deliver 15k Model 3s in the next 35 days in Canada? That would be impressive indeed.

 

[sooner]

Eh, not deliver, was loose with my language, but in transit maybe. It seems to have been a month of nothing but Canada production, at if they are at 2,5k a week (on average for month) that would be about 10k model 3s. So my numbers are probably high, but still, 5k maybe.

 

[Moderatefan]

You think they are going to deliver 15k Model 3s in the next 35 days in Canada? That would be impressive indeed.

If Canada population is 11% of U.S., then their total reservations should be around 20K.
I do not believe 15K out of 20 would go for First Production. My guess is 10K tops. Hopefully, will see the # in Q2 results.

 

[Waiting4M3]

Eh, not deliver, was loose with my language, but in transit maybe. It seems to have been a month of nothing but Canada production, at if they are at 2,5k a week (on average for month) that would be about 10k model 3s. So my numbers are probably high, but still, 5k maybe.

I doubt 5k M3 will be enough to help Tesla staying under 200k in US until Q3. I estimated that they will need to delivery >15k M3 in Canada, and stash additional 10k M3 in transit at the end of quarter to have a chance at staying under 200K in Q2.

Also Tesla will push deliveries as much as they can because holding cars in parking lots will hurt their quarterly financials, they only count the sales once delivery is made. Delivering 15k in 10 stores in Canada in ~35 days won't be easy, especially likely 2/3 (10k) of the cars are going to the 5 stores in Quebec and Ontario. That averages to 2k cars/store, 60 cars a day. If the store is open for 10 hrs, it's a car every 10 min, tough, not impossible.