With the commercial launch of the Propulsion model, we already saw the Tesla Model Y sweeping away everything in its path on the electric vehicle market. Except that the first wave, expected at the end of 2022, is much less strong than what one could imagine in France.
The launch of the Model Y Propulsion in August 2022, cheaper than the equivalent Model 3, was to strengthen the hold of Tesla’s SUV on the European market. Interest in this less than €50,000 version of the Model Y was immediate for many buyers, but not everything went as planned for Tesla when we look at deliveries in France.
The first deliveries began in November. The model took the opportunity to break some sales records in several European countries, particularly in Norway. Except that after a month of November when the Model Y dominated the ranking of French and European registrations, in December, it is not exactly the same observation.
In December, the Model 3 again doubles the Model Y
As the Model 3 and Model Y Propulsion both come off the lines of the Shanghai factory, they are generally in the same boat with respect to manufacturing or transport issues. It’s a little different for the Model Y Grande Autonomie et Performance, which can come from the Berlin factory, with different lead times.
The wave of deliveries, expected for the end of 2022, applied above all to the Model Y Propulsion, which we imagined would quickly dominate the brand’s deliveries. Except that the Tesla Model 3 does not seem to have said its last word:
| Tesla Model Y | Tesla Model 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| November 2022 | 2,891 | 2,809 |
| December 2022 | 2,493 | 2,675 |
| Total total 2022 | 11,892 | 17,005 |
It remains difficult to judge the accumulation for the year 2022, since the Model Y began its career that year for Europe, while the Model 3 had already reached its cruising speed in terms of production. However, the last two months show that all is not yet won for the Model Y, despite an aggressive new commercial offer.
A not so frank success in France
Elon Musk announced at the shareholders’ meeting that the Model Y would quickly become the bestseller of the brand. He has also done everything to divert customers from the Model 3 and encourage them to fall for the Model Y. Apparently France is still resisting a little by still preferring the Model 3, despite a price much higher than this than it was last year, and even higher than the entry-level SUV fare.
If the Model Y did not achieve the success that the brand hoped for, especially in France, it is because Tesla found itself with many abandonments of purchase orders. Once delivered to the dealership, several Model Y Propulsion were put up for sale to find a new buyer. The company has gone so far as to offer options or grant discounts for getting rid of bulky vehicles in the car parks of the “Service Centers” concerned. Even if the vehicles have found takers, Tesla’s image as a leader is once again a little tarnished.
Tesla, by favoring above all the evolutions of the Model Y compared to the Model 3, is probably making a strategic error. One more when we take a closer look at the Tesla share price, which is suffering from Elon Musk’s escapades with Twitter. We will quickly see, over the next few months, if the American brand was right to bet everything on the Model Y. For the moment, its start does not seem as successful as that of the Model 3. lost a bit of its “hype” over the years?
