Tesla Q2 production capacity already sold out

Tesla has allegedly already completely sold out its production capacity for the second quarter. According to a US media report, Elon Musk has now told employees this – about two months before the end of the quarter.

As Electrek reports, with reference to insiders, this is said to affect not only the starting production of the refreshed versions of the Model S and Model X, but also the Model 3 and Model Y. However, there is no confirmation from Tesla – or a tweet from Elon Musk – on this.

In the case of the Model S and Model X, this was almost to be expected: both models have been available for order since the presentation of the refresh at the end of January, but not a single unit of either of the two large model series was produced in the first quarter. The production that has now started up again is therefore in contrast to orders received in more than three months.

Musk had already reported extremely high demand during the conference call on the first quarter annual report at the end of April. “We’ve seen a real shift in customer perception of electric vehicles and our demand is the best we’ve ever seen,” Musk said at the time. “Normally in the first quarter demand drops, but this year we’ve seen an increase above the normal seasonal drop in demand in the first quarter.”

The current second quarter is expected to set a new production record, and not just because of the reportedly high demand: it may even be the first time the 200,000 vehicle mark for Teslas produced in a quarter is met. The previous record from Q1 2021, with 180,338 vehicles built, was only achieved by the Model 3 and Model Y – as mentioned, the assembly lines for the Model S/X were still idle. If production of the two smaller model series in Fremont and Shanghai (especially the Model Y from China) continues to rise and the Model S and X are added again, the 200,000 vehicles seem feasible.

Electrek also sees the extremely high demand as a reason why Tesla is apparently currently revising its referral programme. Another report by the portal states that Tesla has already spent 23 million dollars (19 million euros) on the free use of its Superchargers in 2021 alone as part of its referral programme.

electrek.co (demand), electrek.co (referral programme)