Go for it now or wait for the next announcements from Elon Musk? It’s hard to decide when is the best time to buy a Tesla electric car. We take stock of what is being said at the moment, to help you choose.
” It’s always a good time to buy a Tesla! “will assure the biggest fans. Nevertheless, sometimes there are better times than others. A few days before the “Tesla investor day” event on 1er March 2023, the question arises all the more since Elon Musk is expected to make important announcements. Should we buy a Model Y / Model 3 now or wait a bit?
While incumbent automakers make changes quite predictably, with Tesla it’s always hard to anticipate. The cars produced are often improved over time, without waiting for a specific announcement, apart from a tweet from Elon Musk. This leaves room for a lot of rumours, which can make you hesitate about the best time to make your purchase.
HW4: the new brain of cars
HW4, or Hardware 4, is a big electronic evolution from Tesla to come. Behind the switch from HW3 to HW4, it is the autonomous driving capabilities that could be greatly improved. This update should come with additional cameras on vehicles.
Elon Musk has already announced that the Cybertruck will necessarily be equipped with HW4. The Tesla boss remained more vague about the rest of the range, and when production models will be equipped with them. Tesla Model S and Model X, the top of the range, should be the first to upgrade to HW4. Customers will not always know, upstream, whether their model is assembled with the HW3 or HW4 system. The Tesla Model Y and Model 3 should also be quickly affected by this update. Deadlines are not yet known.
If you want to buy the latest state-of-the-art Tesla, it’s better to wait until HW4 is generalized throughout the range and all production sites. It is rumored that it will not be possible to upgrade from HW3 to HW4 after production, unlike the previous generation which could be updated by going to the workshop.
Expected changes for the Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 is over 5 years old and hasn’t had any updates yet. That’s about to change, according to first reports confirmed by inside sources. The Model 3 sedan will have significant changes in its structure to lower production costs. The model is also expected to have aesthetic changes to the front and rear, as well as some hardware improvements inside. Some of these changes may also apply to Model Y.
These new versions of the Model 3 should go into production in September in China. If you are tempted by a Model 3, we recommend that you wait for Elon Musk’s announcements from 1er March before ordering. If Model 3 production costs are reduced on this new generation, it may mean that the prices of the sedan could be brought down. The Model 3 price has already recorded a significant drop in January, which has allowed the manufacturer to fill the order book.
Tesla Vision still pending
The Tesla Model Y and 3 currently leaving production no longer have ultrasonic sensors (USS). Tesla Vision, which should advantageously replace the old system, is slow to be made available to customers. This means that many Tesla models currently cannot take advantage of parking aids:
- Park Assist;
- Car parking;
- Auto Exit;
- Smart Auto Exit.
If you are not the king of maneuvers, it may be good to wait until Tesla Vision is really installed on the models produced. This will save you from having unnecessary bodywork costs.
The price of Model Y or Model 3
With Tesla, nothing is really predictable when it comes to price. We imagine that if the production costs of Model 3 drop, this could affect its price. However, this is pure speculation.
It is more difficult to be able to make projections for the Model Y SUV. Depending on the country, some Model Y prices have already been significantly increased. This does not necessarily mean that this will be the case in France or in Europe.
Even if the price of lithium is currently down, it seems unlikely that the price of the Model 3 and Model Y will be reduced accordingly. Elon Musk likes to guarantee his investors comfortable margins. An element that the manufacturer must sometimes trim to restart demand.
The two electric models offer one of the best quality/performance/price ratios on the market. If a Tesla model tempts you, you are not really likely to regret your choice.
Wait for Elon Musk’s announcements of the 1er mars can be a double-edged sword. If major changes are announced, the delays to receive the Model 3 could quickly lengthen. For those who do not necessarily want to have the latest innovations, and who would like to receive a Model 3 or a Model Y in a fairly short time, now is the time to order.
Tesla is also likely to announce, on March 1, 2023, a brand new model. Numerama’s editorial staff will follow the announcements in detail.
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