Will the 3-Row Tesla Mannequin Y L Promote Properly within the USA?

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The very first thing you see now if you go to the Tesla webpage for the Mannequin Y is the brand new Mannequin Y L Premium. That is the brand new three-row Mannequin Y first launched in China. It’s now being constructed and bought in the US to attempt to increase gross sales right here. Even with Tesla gross sales rebounded strongly in Europe final quarter, they have been reportedly down by about 20% 12 months over 12 months within the US — even with excessive gasoline costs from the conflict on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz closure! Clearly, Tesla wants a lift within the US market.

The primary picture on an automated slideshow reveals the beginning value for the Tesla Mannequin Y L Premium being $61,990. (It at all times make me chuckle and shake my head slightly that Tesla makes use of these $990 endings on costs since Elon Musk mentioned years in the past he hated that type of pricing and that Tesla would solely use clear flat pricing … like $62,000 as an alternative of $61,990. Anyway, clearly, this little trick will get extra folks to purchase automobiles, and Tesla has to do all it could actually as we speak to promote automobiles.)

However the query is, how many individuals will purchase the Tesla Mannequin Y L within the USA?

Nobody is aware of. These are some components to contemplate that I believe may very well be important when attempting to reply this query:

• Most individuals who wished a Tesla Mannequin Y already acquired one.
• Individuals who love their Tesla however would favor three rows and extra space will commerce of their automobiles for the brand new Mannequin Y L.
• Many Individuals do need three rows of seats now, so this mannequin may very well be standard.
• Nonetheless, it’s not competing out there of the Santa Fe, which begins at about $35,000, not $62,000. So, what number of will purchase it?
• There are additionally extra premium and bigger three-row SUVs from Cadillac, and many others. There are ones just like the Toyota Grand Highlander and Lexus TX. And there are even electrical ones just like the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and Kia EV9.
• “Full Self Driving” is a possible differentiator, however that’s not driving quite a lot of gross sales in the mean time.

All issues thought of, it’s very laborious to know if the Mannequin Y L will give Tesla a major increase or barely any in any respect. I’m extra pessimistic about it than a few of my colleagues who suppose it is going to be very talked-about within the US. My guess is there are some loyal Tesla homeowners who commerce of their Mannequin Y or Mannequin 3 for one, however then the market will likely be fairly restricted at this value. That mentioned, if FSD supplies true hands-free, eyes-off driving in some unspecified time in the future, I may see it getting very talked-about. However let’s wait and see if that occurs….

What do you suppose?