Don’t shoot the messenger ”was a phrase I used regularly a few months ago. After digging for a while about what’s going on with Tesla’s Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant, I decided to do my duty as a journalist and find answers. After calling several Tesla showrooms without much luck, the answer finally fell into my lap after someone who regularly read the website told me that they had been contacted to review their order. “Tesla is not going to make the LR RWD Model Y,” a sales adviser told the man. He left the rearview mirror for two years and put $ 2,500 in the limbo over the entire period.
After this email I decide to call and see what I can dig up. Eventually I found out that the Model Y’s LR RWD variant is not going to be made, so I wrote an article about it and there is a lot of disbelief about it.
“It was badly obtained.” “Sales advisors know nothing.” “Tesla did not make a statement, I would not believe this article.” A few hours later, my inbox on Twitter was filled with holders of Model Y LR RWD, who said they did not believe Tesla was canceling the variant. A few weeks later I started to see more and more people starting to consider their order, away from the LR RWD they were waiting for, and to the AWD versions of the car. Eventually Elon Musk finally confirmed that the product range is becoming too complicated and that Model Y’s little known configuration is dead.
We have too much product complexity
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 22 February 2021
It was difficult, even if someone did not have a reservation for the car, there was almost a subgroup of Tesla fans who were just as passionate about the car as the company in general. I respected that so many people wanted answers, and to this day I am still frustrated with Tesla because they have left so many people in the dark about what they are planning. It might have been in the air, but even a small amount of communication in the form of an email would have been sufficient.
During the few months I have come in contact with so many LR RWD booking holders, I have come across a few of them. I talked to them regularly and promised that I would do my best to somehow find more concrete evidence. I did not think anything would really change, I thought my article was correct, which is why I published it (although several people asked me to rewrite the article simply because they did not want to believe the car on which they did not wait). for two years it does not come.)
One person I spoke to regularly was a man named Mike. He’s from Dallas, and he’s been kind enough to describe his entire story with the LR RWD saga, and he would surely tell me about the delivery of his LR AWD, which he filmed last week.
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“I reserved a Blue, LR RWD Model Y with induction wheels and black inside in early 2019. Put down $ 2,500 and lock in $ 6,000 for FSD,” Mike told me. He was very excited for his new Tesla because he had been waiting a long time. Model S and Model X were outside its price range, and its children did not make the Model 3 a suitable option.
‘Finally got the perfect SUV – the Model Y, but my budget was stretched. I have never in my life spent so much for a car. But SR would not have been enough for me because my family travels regularly. So LR RWD seemed like the perfect middle ground – more than enough power than my previous SUVs, did not need AWD in Dallas, but still it would be good to travel. But once Performance and LR AWD started (months early), the only thing posted on the Tesla website was, “LR RWD is not currently scheduled for production”. Everyone who had pre-orders eventually got full (even 7 seats), but LR RWD pre-orders just sat there. ”
And he sat there.
And sat there.
And sat there. For two years, without answers.
Mike was desperate for answers and did everything in his power to find an update on the car.
“I set up news alerts for ‘LR RWD,'” Elon tweeted, asking for a showroom, emailing the official ordering team in Fremont, even asking questions during the quarterly meetings, “Mike explained. ‘No information, and it was very frustrating. Tesla is a great company, but has a shortage in the communications department. ”
Finally my article was when Mike started questioning what was going on. Elon then confirmed that the car was not going to be manufactured, and that was when he decided to do something about it. ‘I went to my local showroom about migrating orders – and it was frustrating too, they still had no official communication. Some people said, ‘We can move you to LR AWD, but you have to pay $ 10,000 for FSD.’ Others said, “We may be able to move you and keep your FSD at $ 6,000, but no guarantees.” ‘
Several reports indicated that Tesla would respect the FSD price set when ordering the car, usually $ 6,000 for the LR RWD booking holders. Some had to pay the full price of $ 10,000, this is where FSD currently sits. ‘I read of others online canceling and replacing their orders, and having to pay the $ 10,000 price tag. I finally took matters into my own hands and contacted the HQ Ordering Support in Fremont. I probably had 5+ calls with them, and their communication problems are the same as others – they do not come back to you by email or phone, and every time you call, you have to repeat everything and explain to them how to hold the FSD price. Eventually, I got hold of a supervisor, and he took care of me. Called LR AWD, maintained the $ 6,000 price tag. ”
Mike received his new Model Y at the end of March. It’s the same color he wanted, and he’s glad he waited. ‘Overall, I’m glad I waited 1 year after launch to take down my Model Y. With COVID, I drove a lot less, so getting a new car was not a big priority. I heard horror stories from early episodes, and I thoroughly examined the car. Two years after my initial order, I only received delivery – and the condition was great! No gaps, no paint problems, no flaws – literally perfect (and believe me, I did the whole checklist). ”
The long limbo in which Tesla has left some owners behind is a difficult situation for everyone involved. This is difficult for the company, as it may not have known before Musk finally dropped the bomb on Twitter. This is difficult for the discussion holders because they sat there for two years without answers. And it’s hard for the journalists looking for answers for the owners, because Tesla has never really communicated about anything since its PR division was disbanded.
Mike’s just glad it’s over.
“I’m generally happy with the car and still fighting for the Tesla case,” he says. “I would only recommend that Tesla improve their communication (ordering and service) with customers.”
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-Joey