Tesla has seen a solid spike in orders for its popular electric SUV on the back of a recent rise in petrol and diesel prices in Australia, with some variants now seeing a potential wait of up to 4 months.
Estimated delivery dates on Tesla’s local Model Y configurator across multiple variants have increased from a few weeks to an average of around 2-3 months.
Recent order holders shared the estimated lead times they are being provided online with one saying: “I ordered my 2026 RWD model Y Ultra Red with black interior on Feb 16. They told me May/June. App still says Feb/March with no VIN etc.. so, I’m just expecting May/June.”
Another said: “Ordered last Thursday and app shows March to May for me”.
This news also comes just a few weeks after the company launched its biggest EV model in recent years, the 6-seater Model Y L.
That car has seen quite a bit of coverage since its earlier-than-expected arrival in our market, making it one of the first outside of China to receive the popular model.
In January 2026, Tesla renamed its local lineup to align more closely with its global naming convention, while also revealing that the cheaper models it has launched in other markets will not be available in Australia and New Zealand.
Tesla’s local Model Y lineup now is named and priced (before on-roads) from:
- Tesla Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive – $58,900
- Tesla Model Y Premium Long Range All-Wheel Drive – $68,900
- Tesla Model Y Premium L All-Wheel Drive – $74,900
- Tesla Model Y Performance All-Wheel Drive – $89,400
Also in January, Tesla announced that all new purchases of Model 3 or Model Y vehicles will come with Tesla’s recently upgraded 5-year unlimited km warranty for buyers who get a car starting at the beginning of 2026.
That warranty replaces the previous 4-year or 80,000 km warranty on offer, and according to Tesla Australia, it is a global first to be offered in markets where Tesla vehicles are sold.
Then last month, Tesla’s local arm confirmed the timing of the subscription-only offering of Full Self Driving (FSD) Supervised in Australia and New Zealand for customers who place an order on a Tesla after 31 March 2026.
This could also push some buyers to place their orders ahead of the cut-off, especially those wanting to pay upfront for the popular self-driving software.
With interest in EVs at an all-time high, the spike in Tesla’s local lineup can only be a good thing for more cleaner cars on our roads in the coming months. We look forward to seeing this spike translate into sales numbers which we will aim to closely report, right here on The Driven.
See The Driven’s 2026 EV Sales Breakdown here.
