Before the advent of the M3 in the UK the MS/X were built in Fremont then partially dismantled for shipping in containers to Tilburg where they were reassembled for onward transportation to UK, presumably for import tax reasons. Now that the M3’s are shipped from the States ready built to the UK are the S/X still containerised or do they also come ready built from Fremont?
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How are Model S/X shipped to UK?
- Thread starter Tonybvi
- Start date
Rooster6655
Active Member
I think it makes sense for the past few quarters where deliveries have been strained but perhaps in the future if it still saves them money they will start doing it again but more GFs will reduce this need anyway.
They have done a few shipments from the East Coast towards the end of last quarter, for speed to get as many cars out before the quarter is up, but looks like they are going from SF at the moment.
Oh..reading all this ruined my childhood dreams that the model x flew over the Atlantic 
vitesse
Active Member
And why were S/X shipped partly assembled? Was it to save transport costs as you could fit 2 or 3 in one container or was it for import tax reasons?
I think I can answer my own question now! Just received an email telling me my X is “currently getting ready to make its way over to us here in the UK, we therefore have a collection date of Saturday 26th October .....”
Given the timing of the Grand Dahlia this would not be possible if the car was arriving by ship. Therefore it must have come over containerised for reassembly in Tilburg.
Tony
Given the timing of the Grand Dahlia this would not be possible if the car was arriving by ship. Therefore it must have come over containerised for reassembly in Tilburg.
Tony
They used to ship them in containers from a Gulf port (Houston area I think) and then as already described reassemble them in Tilburg. What's troubling me is the transit time from Houston, reassembly in NL and then delivery to UK would mean it would have to be on a ship already. I therefore doubt it is coming that route.
I strongly suspect that your car is fully assembled and is on the Grand Dahlia which arrives in Zeebrugge on 25 Oct. Your car would then be loaded onto another ship heading for Grimsby
A delivery on late Saturday afternoon isn't totally out of the question, even to Edinburgh, but ......
I think the message means it’s ready to leave Tilburg. Admittedly a while back but the delivery date would only be confirmed once the car was on the way from or just about to leave Tilburg.
The transit route from Fremont to Tilburg and then the UK has been in operation for years, and whilst slow it is reliable. It also saves import duty which Tesla are obviously happy to swallow on the cheaper M3
I don’t see Tesla messing around with this process for the S & X - but then again they aren’t the most logical of operations half the time.
The delivery is scheduled for Saturday morning - if they stick to that then the car can’t be on the Dahlia. I’m certain they’re still using the Tilburg reassembly plant.
Hope it goes well and don’t forget to post a pic - or it didn’t happen
It happened and the car was immaculate - thank you Edinburgh Tesla.
By container ship? Meaning that’s still the route , when did you order mate? , wondering when mine will show
I ordered on 3rd Feb.
Was told by email when I enquired what my VIN is and which ship I was on.
No information since then though.
Last I was told is 20th March, or sometime that week.
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