These examples of the 2024 Tesla Model 3 are patiently waiting for a new owner
August 14, 2024 at 09:50
- Hundreds of brand-new Teslas were spotted in Florida, surrounded by overgrown grass.
- The VINs indicate that most vehicles were manufactured between April and May 2024.
- A local service center reportedly confirmed that this lot is feeding the new Model 3 inventory.
Hundreds of Teslas parked in an overgrown field might seem like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie, but it’s happening right now in the US. These seemingly abandoned electric vehicles were spotted near the Tesla Service Center in Tampa, Florida, and their VINs suggest they’re practically brand-new.
The lot might not be as crowded as the EV graveyards from China, but it certainly looks neglected. Grass has grown around the vehicles, with most of them being examples of the updated 2024 Tesla Model 3. Toward the back, we can also see examples of the pre-facelifted Model 3 and more than a few Model Ys.
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The viral photo was shared on the TeslaModel3 thread on Reddit by a user called Eric. After looking up some of the VINs, the original posted discovered that the pictured EVs were manufactured in April and May 2024. Eric noted that most of the Teslas have “non-standard package wheels and mixed color interiors,” and added that none of them were performance models.
A commenter with the username fixumistakes reached out to the local service center about the mysterious Tesla field and learned that it’s used as an overflow lot for the inventory of new Model 3s. Reportedly, the company ran out of space at its main facilities in Florida and Orlando, prompting the need for an additional location.
Eric / Reddit
Another Reddit user, teckel, claims that old Sentry Mode footage from their 2022 Model Y Tesla shows it was parked in a similar grassy field before they purchased it. While it’s unclear how long these electric vehicles remain in such locations before being delivered to their new owners, concerns arise about the effects of the scorching Florida sun and the potential for rodents hiding in the tall grass.
Judging by the growing inventory of unsold vehicles, Tesla could be facing the same challenge as many other automakers: slowing demand for EVs.
After a record-breaking Q4 2023 with 484,507 deliveries, Tesla sold 386,810 vehicles in Q1 2024 and 443,956 in Q2 2024. However, experts believe the automaker’s U.S. sales numbers could fall, casting uncertainty over its future prospects.
Last year, the Tesla Model Y SUV topped the charts for the world’s best-selling car, with 1,223,000 sales. As for the closely related Tesla Model 3 sedan, it occupied the 10th position with 508,000 sales. Interestingly, those were the only EVs in the top 10 list.
Does anyone know what this is? Hundreds of Model 3’s in an overgrown lot.
byu/LSDBunnos inTeslaModel3