- Tesla Model Ys are being prepared for customer deliveries
- RWD Models here, Performance Models yet to be produced
- Hundreds of Model Y customers to take delivery in coming weeks
Tesla Model Y. Image: Riz Akhtar
The first local Model Ys for customers have now landed, confirmed by customer VIN entries in the department of infrastructure’s Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) system.
These vehicles arrived on the first of a few Australian-bound ships carrying thousands of cars Tesla Model 3s and Model Ys over the next 2 months.
These were spotted on August 1 by The Driven and show that the vehicles on the latest ship were built in the latter half of June when Tesla’s Shanghai plant production hit an all-time high.
In comments in late July to The Driven, Tesla shipping tracker @Vedaprime said: “The ships coming have started earlier than previous quarters,” and that “There are multiple ships on the way.”
“All ships will carry both Model Y and 3,” he said.
When the Model 3 arrived in 2019, it was all shoulders to the grindstone – even Tesla chair Robyn Denholm took to the showroom floor to help deliver what was at the time the most anticipated EV to arrive in the country. All vehicles went through Port Kembla, before being transported to other capital cities.
It is as yet unclear if Tesla is going to employ a different tactic in getting vehicles to customers more efficiently this time around.
Word is that Tesla may start to process cars through other ports, although this has not yet been confirmed.
Tesla Model Ys are being prepared for customer deliveries
The Tesla Model Y orders opened for the Australian market on June 10 and reports are now surfacing of the first customer vehicles being in the country.
The appearance of Tesla Model Y vehicles in the RAV (Register of Approved Vehicles) system is another confirmation that hundreds of the first GigaShanghai-built Model Y customer vehicles have arrived on board a number of carrier ships.
The RAV system Model Y entry also shows that these vehicles are the 5-seat model which is the only seat configuration currently available to Australian customers. In other markets, Tesla also offers a 7-seat option which may be available to future customers.
In July, Tesla made further production upgrades to their export plant with the foal to produce over 2,200 Tesla Model Ys per day.
RWD Models here, Performance Models yet to be produced
So far, all reports show that the first Model Y deliveries will include the base RWD model ordered as the Model Y orders opened in early June.
Tesla Model Y. Image: Riz Akhtar
The fastest variant, the Model Y Performance order holders will have to wait until later in the year for the production of their EVs.
The same goes for thousands of Model 3 order holders who placed orders after January this year as Tesla wades through its backlog.
This is expected to change over the coming months as Tesla ramps up production from its upgraded Model 3 production lines. More Model 3 and Model Y EVs should put downward pressure on the sharply rising used Tesla Model 3 values too.
Hundreds of Model Y customers to take delivery in coming weeks
With the arrival of the first batch of customer Tesla Model Ys, there is only a bit of time left before these EVs are delivered to customers.
Tesla Model Y in Melbourne: Image: Riz Akhtar
Tesla is in the process of organising many car transporters to get these vehicles to the customer’s home states and territories. They will also be detailing the cars, ready for the lucky order holders to pick them up only weeks after ordering them.
This is a very exciting time for lots of new Tesla customers as well as those who will be upgrading to a bigger Model Y.
The second half of the year is looking very promising for local EV uptake.
Keyword: First Tesla Model Ys for customers land in Australia