We have new news that 6 performance Model Y vehicles are in transit leaving Giga Berlin. The question is, where are they going? We'll answer what we think and more.
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6 Model Y Vehicles Seen Leaving Giga Berlin
We see from the Steve&Julian Facebook page 6 performance Model Y vehicles leaving Giga Berlin. There are many theories as to why this is and we'll explore what those are and what we think the closest answer is.
The good news is that these are all performance Model Y vehicles. Why are they all performance Model Y's? It could be because there is a known demand for these vehicles and if that is so, that will be good for Tesla as the Model Y performance is a much higher profit margin vehicle.
In related news: Giga Berlin should be approved early in 2022!
If these vehicles are using 4680 battery cells and Tesla is starting with the Model Y performance in Europe from Giga Berlin, that is going to mean some serious profit margins - most likely much more than the average of 30% that Tesla had last quarter.
However, I don't think these will have the 4680 batteries - they will more likely use the 2170 cells. The reason is that Tesla is starting the 4680 batteries in Giga Texas - they are not starting with the 4680 batteries in Giga Berlin because Tesla rejected funding from the EU, which would have required Giga Berlin to build the first 4680 batteries there. Because Tesla rejected that funding, they have the freedom of choice to build the 4680 batteries wherever they want outside of Giga Berlin first.
These could be demo cars
These cars could be used to demonstrate the capability of the Model Y performance vehicle from Giga Berlin. There may be interested groups and parties that want to see how the cars perform. Perhaps there is a police department interested in the cars, or some other organization.
I give this one a 4 out of 10 chance.
These could be used for crash tests
Tesla is known for their safety and making sure that its cars from Giga Berlin pass all crash tests is a necessary step before production. I give this one a very good chance and would say 8 out of 10 chance that this is the case. Tesla puts safety first above all else.
These could be used for final validation before production
Someone commented on Twitter that these cars could be used for tailpipe emissions tests or water consumption tests. Those don't make a lot of sense to me. Tesla vehicles do not emit exhaust because they are not ICE vehicles.
Tesla's don't use much water either, outside of the washer fluid, so I'm not understanding the Twitter comment referencing this. I think they are either misinformed or joking.
I give this a 2 out of 10 chance.
These could be test drive vehicles for 3rd party safety and rating agencies
Somewhat in line with the crash tests, there could be other inspection and ratings being done on these vehicles by 3rd party agencies. They could do a full inspection of the cars before signing off that they agree they are ready for full production.
I give this a 7 out of 10 chance.
These could be special gifts for people
These cars could be special gifts for people in Germany that paid an extra premium for these Model Y vehicles. Now, this is pure speculation on my part, but the thought crossed my mind. Since the cars are leaving on a truck, clearly the cars were not meant to be driven yet and perhaps those getting them wanted it that way.
This one is a shot in the dark, so I give it a 1 out of 10 chance.
Where do you think these performance Model Y vehicles are going? Are they being used for final approval and validation before production? Are they being used for crash testing?
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Jeremy Johnson is a Tesla investor and supporter. He first invested in Tesla in 2017 after years of following Elon Musk and admiring his work ethic and intelligence. Since then, he's become a Tesla bull, covering anything about Tesla he can find, while also dabbling in other electric vehicle companies. Jeremy covers Tesla developments at Torque News. You can follow him on Twitter or LinkedIn to stay in touch and follow his Tesla news coverage on Torque News.
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