You order your Tesla online, and then…. you wait. Worse, the delivery date can be pushed back multiple times, leaving you with nothing but anger on Twitter.
Buying a new car now means waiting up to a year, sometimes longer. It all depends on the bells and whistles you buy. However, if you choose a used model, you can get into a car right away – if you’re willing to pay more.
Why does it take so long to get your Tesla?
Since the start of the pandemic, we have seen supply chain delays leaving automakers waiting for critical parts. A good example is semiconductor chips† Some cars even go without several purchased features due to material shortages.
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Subsequently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has left car manufacturers with a lack of other critical components† Among which wiring harnesses — like the former country accounts for a fifth of the total supply in Europe†
The US has also been hit hard by a shortage of neon gas, which is used in chip production and comes almost entirely from Ukraine and Russia.
The cost of buying a new Tesla vs. used
Currently, Teslas are NOT eligible for a federal tax credit — (federal tax credits begin to wind down two quarters after a carmaker sells 200,000 electric vehicles).
if you look Tesla’s website at the moment of writing, it’s cheaper to buy a new one than a used Tesla:
| To make | Price (new) | Price (used) |
|---|---|---|
| Model 3 (2020) | $39,640 to $55,640 | $68,900 to $72,000 |
| Model Y | $57,440 to $61,400 | $77,500 to $83,500 |
| Model S (2021) | $104,990 | From $122,700 |
| Model X | $111,840 to $129,840 | From $114,500 |
Wait, why does a used Tesla cost more?
A used Tesla may have initially cost more due to design additions, customization by the original purchaser, or the purchase of Teslas”Full self-propelled capabilityThen these costs will be passed on to you.
Moreover, this trend has been on the rise in recent years. It’s for all cars, both ICE and EV – although a recent decline finds a lightly used car just 1% cheaper than new.
According to until iSeeCars, the Porsche Taycan luxury electric sedan is a good used buy because of the six-month wait for new versions. Likewise, people who want to buy a new model Ford Mustang Mach-E can wait more than 32 weeks. That is a long time between purchase and receipt.
Ultimately, this scenario is unlikely to improve until the supply chain situation improves.
But there is one good thing. With most retailers now offering digital sales, those who want their cars NOW no longer have to go to car dealerships full of sleazy salespeople. Instead, they can buy from the comfort of their own homes while shitting on Tesla haters on Twitter.