√Tesla Model Y sold out until next year, production to ramp up

Days after launch, wait times for new Tesla Model Y orders have pushed well into 2023 – but production is set to ramp up to meet the strong demand.

The 2023 Tesla Model Y has sold out until early to mid next year just days after orders opened – but CEO Elon Musk says help is on the way for current and future orders.

When orders opened for Tesla’s hotly-anticipated electric SUV on Friday morning, estimated delivery dates sat at August to November 2022 for the Model Y Long Range, or November 2022 to February 2023 for the Performance model.

By mid-afternoon Friday, the rear-wheel-drive model had grown to match the delivery date advertised for its Performance range-mate – while by Monday morning, both models listed estimated delivery dates between February and May 2023 for new orders.

It’s unclear exactly how many Model Ys were ordered by Australian buyers, as Tesla does not reveal sales figures beyond the monthly deliveries it now reports to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

While unverified, sources suggest Tesla sold as many as 25,000 cars on Friday alone – however it is believed this figure may be a global tally, and include markets such as Japan and New Zealand, which opened Model Y orders alongside Australia last week.

In a Tweet over the weekend, CEO Elon Musk remarked Tesla “didn’t expect demand to be so high”, and is “working on accelerating RHD [right-hand-drive] Model Y production”.

The Shanghai factory where Australian-delivered Model 3 and Model Y cars are built has faced significant production hurdles in recent months, grinding to a halt earlier this year amid new COVID-19 outbreak in Shanghai and other Chinese cities.

The latest reports suggest the factory sits at about 50 per cent of its usual capacity – and has coinciding with wait times for the Model 3 extending to nine to 12 months earlier this year, the longest they’ve ever been.

Tesla Australia staff were reportedly told earlier this year to expect no Model 3 deliveries until the second half of this year.

Only one shipment of Tesla vehicles is believed to have arrived on local shores, according to shipping tracker VedaPrime – carrying just 150 to 200 cars, including a selection of Model Y display cars rolled into local showrooms over the weekend.

Prices for the new 2023 Tesla Model Y start from $68,900 plus on-road costs for the base rear-wheel-drive model, increasing to beyond $98,000 for the range-topping Performance all-wheel-drive model.

A mid-spec, all-wheel-drive Long Range variant has been certified for sale locally, and is available overseas – but is yet to become available to order in Australia.

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