Tesla “accelerates” delivery for surplus Long Range Performance Model 3 stock

According to The Driven, Tesla Australia has added a number of new pre-configured Model 3s to its inventory page, giving customers an opportunity to get a Model 3 delivered quickly instead of waiting for customised orders to be shipped from the US.

The vehicles – which are all Long Range Performance Model 3s priced from $95,275 before on-road costs – are all surplus inventory, shipped over by Tesla in recent weeks and available for purchase immediately.

Source: Tesla

Tesla contacted its marketing list on Monday night (Australian time), noting that all the vehicles are “available for accelerated delivery”.

The arrival of the Tesla Model 3 in Australia has had a significant impact the local auto market, having doubled the low number of electric vehicle registrations since deliveries began in September.

Tesla’s expansion into global markets in 2019 – including right hand markets such as Australia – has seen the EV maker double down on production after a difficult ramp in 2018, with over 200,000 units delivered worldwide in the first, second, and third quarter combined.

Tesla does not report on local sales numbers, but a source told The Driven in September that at least 2,414 Model 3s were destined for Australian customers on the first three fully loaded cargo ships.

In late October a number of customers had been told their Performance Model 3 deliveries would be delayed until January 2020.

Ex-Car Advice journo Paul Maric also noted that delivery dates for the Performance Model 3 were pushed back until February.

Tesla contacted its marketing list on Monday night (Australian time), noting that all the vehicles are “available for accelerated delivery”.

The arrival of the Tesla Model 3 in Australia has had a significant impact the local auto market, having doubled the low number of electric vehicle registrations since deliveries began in September.

Tesla’s expansion into global markets in 2019 – including right hand markets such as Australia – has seen the EV maker double down on production after a difficult ramp in 2018, with over 200,000 units delivered worldwide in the first, second, and third quarter combined.

Wowsers. Estimated delivery date for @Tesla Model 3 Performance in Australia has moved to February 2020. Given other models have a Dec. estimate, it sounds like the Performance variant has struck the biggest chord with Australians. Would love to know how many have sold, @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/dt1AJtTVqS

— Paul Maric (@PaulMaric) October 26, 2019

Tesla is apparently also adding surplus inventory to other overseas markets, perhaps in a bid to empty docks and showrooms and achieve another record quarter for Model 3 deliveries.

Based on Tesla's trend of steadily rising Model 3 deliveries on a sequential basis throughout 2019 and management's guidance for total fourth-quarter deliveries to be higher than they were in Q3, the automaker will likely deliver around 289,000 Model 3 units or more in 2019 -- nearly double the 146,000 it delivered in 2018.

To get to 289,000 Model 3 deliveries in 2019, Tesla would need to have nearly 81,000 units delivered in Q4 -- up from about 80,000 in Q3 and 63,000 in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Featured image: Tcxcadet/TMC