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Tesla's New Model Y SUV Hits the Right Note By Playing It Safe (usatoday.com)
Last night, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled the company's brand new electric SUV, the Model Y. The car is only slightly larger than the Model 3 and shares 75% of its parts, leaving many people wanting more. But, as USA Today reports, "The ho-hum reaction to Tesla's new electric SUV is, oddly enough, exactly what the company needs. [F]or a company that needs a little less pizzazz and a little more substance to make good on its promise to become a sustainable force in the auto industry, the Model Y hit the right marks." From the report: It's essentially a crossover version of the Tesla Model 3 compact car, bearing the design hallmarks of a hatchback and sharing the same architectural platform as its car sibling. That Tesla devotees weren't rewarded with sizzling new features on the Model Y illustrates that the company is getting serious about selling vehicles. After all, a compact SUV is precisely what Americans want: a driveable vehicle that puts safety first and flash second. Versions with five and seven seats will be available, with starting prices ranging from $39,000 for the base version to $60,000 for a performance model. If Musk had tried to break new technological barriers or adopt outlandish styling on the Model Y, he would have risked making the vehicle too difficult to manufacture and unappealing to conventional SUV buyers.
The first-available model will start at $47,000 and arrive in fall 2020. You can place a refundable deposit of $2,500 to secure your place in line when the vehicle becomes available. The base model of the Model Y -- the $39,000 version -- won't be available until "sometime in 2021," Musk said. Families can make the Model Y their primary vehicle since the battery range goes from 230 miles to 300 miles depending on the version. That stacks up well against other EVs on the market, such as the Chevrolet Bolt's 238 and the Hyundai Kona's 258. And while techies might not find the Model Y exhilarating, it will come equipped with software and sensors capable of autonomous driving, whenever it becomes legal. But buyers will have to pay for the system upgrade of $3,000 to $5,000.
The first-available model will start at $47,000 and arrive in fall 2020. You can place a refundable deposit of $2,500 to secure your place in line when the vehicle becomes available. The base model of the Model Y -- the $39,000 version -- won't be available until "sometime in 2021," Musk said. Families can make the Model Y their primary vehicle since the battery range goes from 230 miles to 300 miles depending on the version. That stacks up well against other EVs on the market, such as the Chevrolet Bolt's 238 and the Hyundai Kona's 258. And while techies might not find the Model Y exhilarating, it will come equipped with software and sensors capable of autonomous driving, whenever it becomes legal. But buyers will have to pay for the system upgrade of $3,000 to $5,000.
And them kids are gonna tear up Musk!
it will come equipped with software and sensors capable of autonomous driving, whenever it becomes legal.
You'd have to be a complete idiot to believe this at this point.
How can we continue to believe in a just universe and freedom to eat crackers if we have no ale?
Far better to get a 410-mile range Rivian plug-in electric off road truck, with optional added 400 mile battery, with it's winch and design for rugged mountain and forest use. It's built in Michigan.
But if you're city folk, and will rarely use it, go for the Tesla SUV.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
I also like the sound of the Rivian.
However, it is (A) somewhat expensive, (B) the company has no track record yet producing anything, and (C) not sure it will offer a self-driving option.
The Rivian looks way more properly built for offload use than the Y though, for sure. And 400 miles range is great (assuming it really gets that range). I especially like the suspension...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
The first-available model will start at $47,000 and arrive in fall 2020. You can place a refundable deposit of $2,500 to secure your place in line when the vehicle becomes available. The base model of the Model Y -- the $39,000 version -- won't be available until "sometime in 2021," Musk said.
Based on Tesla's track record, that means the first-available $47,000 model will arrive in Spring 2021, while the based $39,000 version won't be available until sometime in late 2021 or early 2022.
This is the form factor I wanted - a taller Model 3 with a hatchback. However just like the Model 3, it has no dash, most controls are menus on the screen, unintuitive door handles, too pricey and only manufacturing the more expensive models first, got to wait another 1.5 - 2 years.
I was excited to see the Model 3 on the road initially, but now I am sick of seeing them. They could have at least tried to given the Model Y some unique design styling.
In 2020, there will be much more competition in the electric vehicle market. I'd prefer a charging port mounted around the front of the vehicle, no tracking, and an actual real dash with controls + a big screen. We'll see.
What I see looks more like a VW Beetle knockoff.
You'd have to be a complete idiot to believe this at this point.
So do you have a real reason for saying that?
There's no reason to think Tesla cannot deliver full self driving at some point in the future. They are basically already for a lot of simple cases. so what leads you to conclude it's not possible for them to evolve what they have until it handles pretty much any case?
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I can no longer watch youtube with an ad-blocker on. But youtube-dl still works, so I just download everything before I watch it. What a bunch of tools.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
All the news sites seem to be in agreement that because this is a Crossover type SUV, which is the big seller in the market right now, that this is going to do great.
The problem I see from the perspective of almost every Tesla owner I've spoken to about is .... none of them are impressed by the styling or anything else about it.
That tells me that yes, this really is a Tesla aimed at the "average consumer" who may have never considered one before, or didn't pay a lot of attention to them until now. That's fine, IF enough of those people turn out to want to try an EV version of a CUV at a $40-60K price-point. This is NOT really a vehicle that existing Tesla owners or fans will probably buy in any great numbers.
I mean, they already just sold a lot of Model 3 sedans to the Tesla-faithful, and this Model Y is so similar to one of those, you'd almost mistake one for the other at first glance. It's a slight bit taller, but exact same headlights, front grille design, and overall shape. Not even so much as new paint colors. I think the people who could afford them and were earlier adopters largely forked out the money for a Model X if they wanted an SUV, and they're rewarded for that cost with a bigger, roomier vehicle that has a far superior dashboard design. (And sure, you get the cool gull-wing rear doors too.)
Oddly too, depending on configuration -- there are people who paid about $5K more for their Model 3 than the same configuration claims it will cost on a Model Y. Maybe that will help some of them resell their slightly used 3 to move to a new Y if they want something like those extra seats for 7 passengers? But again, I bet this is really only a small sub-set of owners.
Those Russian/Texan trolls are not able to hide their anti-Tesla manipulation
I'm a Russian or a Texan then. An interesting concept - being from the UK I get these stereotype images of a ten-gallon stetson or a fur hat.
Long term situation looks decent. Though the pent up demand is gone, the base model will sell well. That will help with economy of scale. It is believed base model gross margin is not 20%. But it is not negative either. With all those slash and burn cost cutting the Q1 results will not be that bad.
Come 19Q2, the 750 million dollar loss 18Q2 will roll off the trailing four quarter view. So Tesla might make be profitable and will be included in SP500. That will bring much needed price support due to index fund buying. By that time world wide pent up demand will be gone. But base model will have margins in 10% range and the company will be able chugg along.
Demand will pick up for the model 3 in later half of the year. Tesla has not done leasing, advertising, fleet sales etc. It should be able to easily sell 350K model 3s world wide with an average sales price of around 40K.
sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
I don't get it. I can appreciate what the report says, that Tesla did not over extend itself or go too wild with new features and design. But to call it an SUV seems like pure marketing BS. They make a few mods on their base model and call it whatever they want to capture so and so market. They could call it a mini big rig or a suburban war tank, but that don't make it so. Take a look at the thing at https://www.tesla.com/modely. It is a small hatchback coupe that looks like my Honda did in the 1980's. Others in this thread have likened it to a VW beetle. If you got a Hot Wheels or Tonka Toy that looks like a Suburban or 4-Runner, and put a little battery and motor in it, that would be more of an SUV than that thing.
The site says:
"Model Y provides maximum versatility—able to carry 7 passengers and their cargo. Each second row seat folds flat independently, creating flexible storage for skis, furniture, luggage and more."
Granted, you have to see it in person to know for sure. But to look at the pictures, 7 people would be a huge squeeze. Furniture? A foot stool maybe. Doesn't seem like enough room for much camping gear, a surfboard, or lumberyard or garden store purchases. Sorry you say, surfboards go on the roof, but that curved hatchback ain't got no place to put a roof rack.
Site says:
"Model Y is capable in rain, snow, mud and off-road."
Off road? Sure, if pulling into your drive is off road. For that wilderness adventure, you can drive on your lawn.
Off road usually implies an alternative suspension - maybe they do, maybe they don't - but there is no clearance. Low center of gravity, as they claim, means your butt won't clear a sidewalk curb let alone rock and rubble mountain trails. Want to try a rainy wash?, wear your swim trunks and snorkel.
It's a hatchback, with a few interior seating mods so they can make you think "I bought an SUV" ... if you are an urban yuppie ... who has never driven through a ranch or a back country road.
And here's the other odd thing.
Site says:
"And when you’re on the road, it’s easy to plug in along the way—at any public station or with the Tesla charging network. We currently have over 12,000 Superchargers worldwide, with six new locations opening every week."
Six new locations a week?
Let's do the math.
6x50 weeks = 300 chargers per year.
At that rate, 12,000 units means they have invested 40 years in infrastructure build out, but we know that that is not the case. So, they put in a lot quickly in just a few years, and now they are lollygagging their way through. 300 units a year worldwide means that market self sustainability for electric vehicles will never happen. Maybe the ad got the numbers wrong. 600 a week would make sense, not 6.
Anyone else think that this ad is missing a few screws?
Any chance the vehicles themselves are missing a few screws?
a compact SUV is precisely what Americans want: a driveable vehicle that puts safety first and flash second.
Essentially a station wagon, this is exactly what I want. But it still misses the mark. High on my list of priorities is a car that won't track my location via GPS at all times. Until I can have privacy and a Tesla at the same time, I won't be getting the Tesla.
If video games influenced behavior the Pac Man generation would be eating pills and running away from their problems.
Ho hum. Another more expensive variant of the Model 3 because they cannot do what they promised -- to manufacture a cheaper EV. All smoke and mirrors and 'give us $2500 now and in a couple of years you can pay $47K+ for something fewer people will want then'. Maybe Tesla should have a program that just switches your deposit to the newest announced product automatically -- for only a mere $1K per year. That's what it amounts too. They've got a pile of people who want to give them a pile of money, but they cannot deliver product. The window is closing...
Why do they keep making them look like boats with snooty noses (reminds me of the maître d' from Ferris Beuler's day off).
Max.
After all, a compact SUV is precisely what Americans want: a driveable vehicle that puts safety first and flash second.
No, they want something big to impress the neighbors. If they wanted driveability and safety, they'd be buying mid-size sedans.
Oh god, not the tweed!
of the garbage car companies are selling under the label "SUV" these days.
It's not a Jeep, a Land Rover, etc. It appears to be another little car that's smaller and less powerful than most normal cars of the 1970s, and lacks the [at least marginally] higner clearance and ruggedness of what would expect for that label. Musk *should* have rolled out something that looked Jeep-ish, sort of similar to some of the cool Jeep concept vehicles of past auto shows.
[sigh]
If you're gonna roll out an "SUV", the damned thing ought to at least LOOK like it even if it cannot act like it. Major lost opportunity given that some of the stuff people want in an SUV could actually be made better with electric power and a drive train that put a motor in each wheel, ditching the drive shaft and axels.
I see tons of stupid "tall cars". I don't understand why people want the rugged offroad styling but are willing to accept what is essentially just a tall car, but I'm not the target market. My favorite vehicle went out of production years ago and gets under 20 mpg at best. It'll go places these CUVs never will though.
Back when the term SUV was invented I always wondered why those people didn't just buy station wagons. They never even go down a dirt road, let alone offroad.
Anyway, if a tree fell on my old truck and I had to replace it but there were no other options than CUVs... then I'd consider this new thing. It doesn't look a whole lot worse than a Rogue or CR-V, and more importantly it really doesn't cost significantly more when you look at long term.
Tesla telecast a parade of American ingenuity, model after model. Finally model "Y" entered on stage; behold a Tesla launch vehicle for the foreign market space. A model designed for smaller roads, built for smaller budgets and engineered for the future. Tesla's smarter approach separates model "Y" from its other big American Dream models by moving on. Model "Y" can solve the last man problem how to provide affordable, energy neutral transportation down to the last man. Great pivot!
UK,EU,CH,NZ,RU et. al. are GIGA plotting factories in the future.