Tesla just opened the CONFIGURATOR in the Design Studio for non-reservation holders
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Now anyone can configure an M3 with Long Range Battery without placing a $1000 deposit. It has been stated that if you configure the M3 and indicate that you are not leasing the vehicle but paying cash with no vehicle trade in that your estimated vehicle delivery date can be as short as a few weeks. Money talks and cash in king.
3-5 months for RWD and AWD (+$4k) versions. 2-4 months for Performance model (+$15k).
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When I saw the delivery times go to 2-4 months (Performance model only), I put in the $1000 (refundable) deposit to check further. I got an invite to "Design", aka configure my options, within 48 hours. This was 1 week ago. They then ask for $2500 to "design" the car, and the whole $3500 then becomes NON REFUNDABLE. I've Not proceeded.
It seems that if you are a reservation holder not ready to configure and take possession of the car in the next 4 months or so, there is no longer a need to keep that $1,000 on account. Might as well cancel the reservation and request a refund of the $1,000.
I think this is a type of financial engineering on the part of Tesla to convert a liability on their balance sheet (that 1,000 deposit) into revenue (the non refundable 3,500). Once you configure and pay the 3,500, they have begun their earning process and can recognize the money as revenue. Wall Street will like that better. Also gets people to commit versus having the ability to request a refund.
Interesting money moves by Elon and his team.
I think this is a type of financial engineering on the part of Tesla to convert a liability on their balance sheet (that 1,000 deposit) into revenue (the non refundable 3,500). Once you configure and pay the 3,500, they have begun their earning process and can recognize the money as revenue. Wall Street will like that better. Also gets people to commit versus having the ability to request a refund.
Interesting money moves by Elon and his team.
Absolutely not. For many that won’t matter, whether they get the M3 in 3 months or 6 to 9 months will be just fine with as many people as Tesla can build cars for.
I think this could also be a result of the demographics breakdown of their reservation holders. If Tesla can consistently produce 7,000 units a week, they can build about 180,000 Model 3s before the $7,500 Tax Credit phases out. However, they might not have 180,000 domestic reservation holders left.
Also, it could be that a majority of their remaining domestic reservation holders are waiting on the $35,000 model, so this could simply be a way of opening the door to people who are willing to buy the higher margin cars first. If this is the case, I think it's kind of sad. This would be the second time they've screwed day one reservation holders who were drawn in by the promise of a sub $30,000 Tesla (after Federal Tax Credit).
Also, it could be that a majority of their remaining domestic reservation holders are waiting on the $35,000 model, so this could simply be a way of opening the door to people who are willing to buy the higher margin cars first. If this is the case, I think it's kind of sad. This would be the second time they've screwed day one reservation holders who were drawn in by the promise of a sub $30,000 Tesla (after Federal Tax Credit).
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I'm so glad I asked for my $1K back in April 2016. Given their track record with the Model X and Model 3 delays, I'm probably never going to buy a Tesla, unless they deliver the Roadster 2.0 ahead of schedule (and heavily discounted from it's initial insane price point).
The fact that Tesla is going all-in on China introduces a ton of risk as the Chinese government can just make up rules as they go to make life difficult for Elon and his team (especially in the light of the rules our current administration imposing new tariffs on China). I think he's going to run into the same walls that caused Google to back out of China and Walmart to continue to struggle in China. My biggest fear is that they get to a point where people lose faith in the dream, and the spending outpaces the potential investment capital.
The fact that Tesla is going all-in on China introduces a ton of risk as the Chinese government can just make up rules as they go to make life difficult for Elon and his team (especially in the light of the rules our current administration imposing new tariffs on China). I think he's going to run into the same walls that caused Google to back out of China and Walmart to continue to struggle in China. My biggest fear is that they get to a point where people lose faith in the dream, and the spending outpaces the potential investment capital.
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Recent stories on Tesla in China are difficult to take seriously. We have 2 sources of information - Tesla and China, neither of which I trust to be transparent. Everything else I read on the subject is second-hand information. That and most of it is still conjecture, as are a lot of things Tesla (semi - model Y - pickup truck - you name it).
Just read a news feed story in Yahoo that Tesla has increased the price of its cars 20% as they don't have the margins to absorb the tariff like some of the other companies. That makes their cars 75% more expensive than in the US. Pretty good motivation to start a factory in China. I believe they said the Chinese market accounts for 17% of their sales.
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20% more for Chinese buyers that is.
https://qz.com/1324457/a-tesla-in-china-will-cost-20000-more-because-of-the-us-china-trade-war/
As for starting a factory in China, they can only half own it. That's why Musk is suporting trump's push to end the 50% ownership rule.
Elon Musk ranted about his biggest problem with China in a Twitter response to Donald Trump
It is interesting that I could simply jump to the front of the line at this point. The Long Range RWD would be the trim I'd want (I'd have to pay $4,000 more for premium upgrades, but oh well), and I'm in California. I have $2,500 just sitting here... hmm...
Nothing ironic about it, many plunked down 1k for the promised 35k entry level version of the car and they will still have to wait for it.
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