Soon after Giga Berlin began construction, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the Model Y will not hit European roads until the opening of Giga Berlin. With pent up demand and a possible delay that could push the opening of the new factory into next year, it looks like Musk is going back on his word, but in a good way.
According to sources who spoke with Tesla delivery estimator @TroyTeslike, Tesla will begin exporting made-in-China (MIC) Model Y’s to Europe this fall.
Drive Tesla has been able to verify this information from two independent sources.
Deliveries would begin in Q3 to help ease pressure on a large backlog of orders that have accumulated since the Design Studio opened for reservations last year.
Supporting this information is the fact that European delivery estimates for the Model 3 have been pushed into Q4. In a discussion with Drive Tesla, Morten Grove says the delays are the result of Tesla freeing up space on transport ships for the electric SUV.
DeliverY date for model 3 LR AWD In Europe is now November @elonmusk https://t.co/c8mAcLAtqL pic.twitter.com/drooEUe3vg
— Tesla_Adri (@tesla_adri) June 7, 2021
Giga Berlin was expected to be operational this month, but a complicated and lengthy bureaucratic process sees the factory still without its final permit. That hasn’t stopped construction progress, as Tesla has already installed and begun testing production line equipment on Model Y frames and casts.
Tesla began exporting MIC Model 3’s last fall. Since then the automaker has exported over 30,000 units to Europe, Australia and New Zealand, reducing their shipping times and costs compared to when the cars were sent from Fremont.
