I always found it weird when I worked at Tesla how they had so many finished vehicles piling up in a lot that they had other lots for the overflow. They would constantly remind everyone what “lean manufacturing” is and that all those cars are already sold. So why are they just sitting there and not going to the people that bought them? If I bought a car, and it was finished being built, I would want it ASAP.
Heard it at VW, too.
The explanation I was given(and this well could be bullshit) was that they’re “sold”, in the sense that they’re claimed by a lot who will further sell them on, hence the storage on-property until they’re transported down the line.
Some are also held and leased for employee use, be it through employer vehicle loan or a leasing program like VW had, where you could select from a variety of models owned for the company fleet(including other manufacturers under their umbrella, like Audi) for up to a year.
That might work for VW but Tesla doesn’t sell to dealerships. They’re only available directly from Tesla. Which is also stupid. Hell, they have tried to sue owners of their cars for re-selling them.
That’s what’s catching up to them now and why (as of last week) they had 46,000+ unsold Teslas sitting in storage lots. Now that they have actual competition and most are aware of Musk’s BS, they can’t sell as rapidly as before. But because they (over) built the factories and feel obligated to use them to build shareholder value, they can’t stop the lines without cratering the stock price.
I expect there to be 75,000+ unsold soon.
Given all the issues they’ve been having I’d argue they aren’t ready
Homer: There’s the right way, the wrong way, and the
Max PowerElon Musk way!Bart: Isn’t that just the wrong way?
Homer: Yes, but faster!
000 steel wool will buff that right out.😉
This apparently took place at a parking lot Tesla recently started renting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Link to relevant news article
Aren’t they not selling? I wonder if insurance fraud is on the table.