Model 3

Make
Tesla
Segment
Sedan

Tesla is a company built on the idea of changing the world of automobility for the better by making cars safer for the planet, but many of its products have had problems. Despite this, offerings like the Model 3 remain immensely popular, and according to Tesla, something like the Model 3 will cost roughly the same as a Toyota Camry to own. With statements like that and, seemingly, the proof to back them up, Tesla's popularity can only increase. But one massive issue that the company can't seem to shake is that of production delays, and now the Model 3 Standard Range Plus has been affected by this, with new orders for this variant now pushed back to January 2022.

As usual, we learned this through Tesla's online configurator rather than a statement from the company. For reference, this version of the Model 3 was formerly promised to see orders completed in November of this year. It's unclear exactly why this delay is occurring, as the Model 3 Long Range still has a delivery date of November 2021 and the Model 3 Performance can be obtained as soon as four to seven weeks from the date of order. Our assumption is that the global semiconductor chip shortage is hampering Tesla's abilities to produce cars in a timeous fashion, but the Model 3's immense popularity in the US is also a likely contributing factor.

The most likely explanation for the delay is a mixture of supply issues and high demand, but with very little information from Tesla, it's impossible to know exactly why the one version of the Model 3 and no other variants are affected. That said, both the Model S and Model X have suffered similar delays of late, so it makes sense that supply chain issues are the cause of the problem. Tesla may have chosen to focus production on the most popular models, or perhaps the most profitable. For now, those interested in the base version of the most affordable Tesla currently on offer will have to wait until next year to get their hands on a brand new model.