Tesla has started sending Model Y customers notifications of the impending delivery of their electric crossover SUVs, but it will only be delivering five-seater Model Ys at first with seven-seater Model Ys to wait until 2021.
Tesla CEO and co-founder Elon Musk confirmed in January that the Californian carmaker had commenced low volume production of the Model Y, and that deliveries would start by the end of March.
Now, a number of customers have shared via social media that they have received messages from Tesla that delivery of their Model Y is “coming soon”.
One customer, who goes by the Twitter handle of @hwfeinstein, said on Wednesday (US time) that he was offered a delivery date of March 15 – exactly a year to the day since it was launched in 2019.
“The next step for you is to confirm when you’re able to take delivery so we can ensure the best experience possible,” Tesla’s full email to customers reads.
“Once you confirm your availability, we’ll send you an update in the coming days to notify you when you can log into your Tesla Account and complete any remaining steps such as financing or trade-in. Your Tesla Advisor will be available to answer any additional questions you may have.
“We’re excited to have Model Y join your home and be a part of your transition to sustainable energy.
“Welcome to the Tesla family.”
It is understood that the first customers to receive the Model Y are buyers of the more expensive all-wheel drive Long Range and Performance options with five-seater configurations (the Model Y is also available with a seven-seater configuration).
However, as Electrek reports, Tesla is offering those who ordered the seven-seater versions of these variants the opportunity to reconfigure their order if they would like to receive their vehicles in March instead of 2021.
“We want to help Model Y join your home as soon as possible. Your order is configured with the seven seat interior which is not estimated to begin production until 2021,” the email says.
“If you’d like to take delivery of your Model Y next month, you can adjust your order to the standard five-seat interior, removing the $3,000 seven-seat interior upgrade cost. Contact a Tesla adviser to update your order today.”
Production of the Model Y is expected to ramp up throughout the year, and Tesla says it learned a great from the numerous hurdles it navigated in 2018 as it ramped up its first mass-volume electric vehicle, the Model 3.
The Californian carmaker is very close-lipped about assembly line specifics, but it could be that in the interest of not making a ramp up more complicated than needs be, Tesla has decided to hold off on seven-seater configurations until later.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.