Inspired by the recent EM tweet that early Model 3 reservationist had a "Pretty good" chance to get an AWD by December 31, 2017 got me thinking.
Every quarter, especially the last quarter of the year (December 31), Tesla pulls out all the stops to deliver as many cars as they can. Part of the reason for this is to allow new owners to get their cars before milestones that affect qualifications for tax credits in the current year rather than waiting a whole extra year to benefit from the tax credit.
Inevitability, despite Herculean efforts by Tesla and its logistic and consumer finance partners, some cars don't make the cut off, and are delivered in the following quarter. While getting the tax credit sooner than latter is a significant benefit, getting the full $ 7500 vs. $ 3750 credit can be quite material in the affordablity of the Model 3 for some buyers. By extension, getting a half $ 3750 vs. $ 0 credit once the phase out begins is a big deal too.
With a bit of planning, Tesla could host "Delivery Events" events at or near milestones at or near the factory with a popup delivery center. A big parking lot as well as some tents where registration, finance, and insurance paperwork can be finalized would be the key ingredients. These Delivery Events could allow hundreds, and prehaps thousands, of new Tesla owners to obtain a significant benefit before an upcoming milestone deadline.
Here are some upcoming significant milestones:
December 31, 2017 - Allow new Model 3, as well as S and X, owners to get the $ 7500 tax credit apply on their 2017 tax returns
June 30, or September 30, 2018 (?) - Last day for delivery to get the full $ 7500 tax credit before it is reduced (phased out) to $ 3750.
December 31, 2018 - Allow new Tesla owners to get the $ 3750 tax credit to apply to their 2018 tax returns.
March 31, 2019 (?) - Last day for delivery to get the a $ 3750 tax credit before it is fully phase out to $ 0.
So, how many Model 3 reservationist in the US that are not local to Southern Califonina would be willing (or even excited) to take delivery before a milestones in Fremont? While it be super cool to be able to get a factory tour that many Model S and X that took local delivery, even without a tour, Tesla could take modest steps to make it an extra special event. Perhaps give out of state owners a special one-time extra allocation of Supercharger credits to help them drive home in their new Model 3 would be a nice gesture as well.
Lastly, in fairness, I think Tesla should not "bump" anyone from getting their car before a milestone date that reserved early enough to have it locally delivered. The events in Fremont should be targeted to reservationist who would have their cars produced before the milestone, but not soon enough to assure enough time to have them locally delivered before the milestone deadline.
Every quarter, especially the last quarter of the year (December 31), Tesla pulls out all the stops to deliver as many cars as they can. Part of the reason for this is to allow new owners to get their cars before milestones that affect qualifications for tax credits in the current year rather than waiting a whole extra year to benefit from the tax credit.
Inevitability, despite Herculean efforts by Tesla and its logistic and consumer finance partners, some cars don't make the cut off, and are delivered in the following quarter. While getting the tax credit sooner than latter is a significant benefit, getting the full $ 7500 vs. $ 3750 credit can be quite material in the affordablity of the Model 3 for some buyers. By extension, getting a half $ 3750 vs. $ 0 credit once the phase out begins is a big deal too.
With a bit of planning, Tesla could host "Delivery Events" events at or near milestones at or near the factory with a popup delivery center. A big parking lot as well as some tents where registration, finance, and insurance paperwork can be finalized would be the key ingredients. These Delivery Events could allow hundreds, and prehaps thousands, of new Tesla owners to obtain a significant benefit before an upcoming milestone deadline.
Here are some upcoming significant milestones:
December 31, 2017 - Allow new Model 3, as well as S and X, owners to get the $ 7500 tax credit apply on their 2017 tax returns
June 30, or September 30, 2018 (?) - Last day for delivery to get the full $ 7500 tax credit before it is reduced (phased out) to $ 3750.
December 31, 2018 - Allow new Tesla owners to get the $ 3750 tax credit to apply to their 2018 tax returns.
March 31, 2019 (?) - Last day for delivery to get the a $ 3750 tax credit before it is fully phase out to $ 0.
So, how many Model 3 reservationist in the US that are not local to Southern Califonina would be willing (or even excited) to take delivery before a milestones in Fremont? While it be super cool to be able to get a factory tour that many Model S and X that took local delivery, even without a tour, Tesla could take modest steps to make it an extra special event. Perhaps give out of state owners a special one-time extra allocation of Supercharger credits to help them drive home in their new Model 3 would be a nice gesture as well.
Lastly, in fairness, I think Tesla should not "bump" anyone from getting their car before a milestone date that reserved early enough to have it locally delivered. The events in Fremont should be targeted to reservationist who would have their cars produced before the milestone, but not soon enough to assure enough time to have them locally delivered before the milestone deadline.
