Tesla Looks to Boost Model Y Sales with Threats of Nearing Price Increases

Chris Teague
by Chris Teague

The Tesla Model Y is a wildly popular EV on the global stage, but the automaker is still looking for ways to boost sales and keep it relevant. As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2024, Tesla is pushing the Model Y with a message that prices will increase on April 1 in hopes that the threat of higher purchase price s will drive buyers to act in the next two weeks.


Without a dealer network to act as a financial buffer between it and buyers, Tesla’s numbers look worse the more vehicles it has sitting in inventory. That has led the company to offer various promotions and discounts in the past, either through price cuts or the offer of free charging with a vehicle purchase. While this move isn’t a discount, it could incentivize buyers to purchase before the end of the quarter and make Tesla’s books look healthier to start the year.


These moves are not at all surprising for Tesla, but the company is in an interesting position. It does virtually zero marketing and does not have a communications department to field journalists’ inquiries. At the same time, its business model allows it to pivot quickly and offer incentives to boost sales when needed.


While boosting quarter-end sales is a good idea for Tesla, the discounts are regular enough now that it starts to look silly to buy one at any other time of the year. If you’re almost guaranteed to get a discount, there’s no reason to shop until Tesla cranks up the incentives. Even so, the company will likely remain in its dominant position atop the EV market in the U.S. for the foreseeable future, as other automakers are grappling with shifting demand for electric models and rising costs.


[Image: Tesla]


Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by  subscribing to our newsletter.

Chris Teague
Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

More by Chris Teague

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 26 comments
  • El scotto El scotto on Mar 18, 2024

    Naw, it's the "Annual Tax Sale!" or "We stack em deep and sell them cheap!"

  • Harry Harry on Mar 19, 2024

    HOW i RECOVER MY LOST OR STOLEN FUNDS:

    You should gather and document all relevant details about the theft, such as transaction IDs, wallet addresses, and any communication with the scammer if any, and then proceed to message SYLVESTER. G. BRYANT to get back your lost/ stolen funds by sharing the evidence you've compiled. he was the only one who was able to recover my funds I was so surprised he got back my money worth $52k but glory be to God and all thanks to him.. here is his contact below: Instagram: Yt7crackersz

    Email: Yt7crackersz@ gmail,com

  • Zerofoo Some high school kid is going to love this car.
  • Tane94 Model names from the past are not the answer. Cadillac is still recovering from the New York Joe deNysche error. What is Cadillac's identity? It walked away from its Standard of Excellence image long ago. Is it Electric Luxury? European Luxury built here? luxury performance? I don't know. Is all-electric models by 2030 still the goal?
  • MaintenanceCosts (1) Crash program to redesign all of the interiors, now, to banish all evidence of cost-cutting and have at least as much flash as current Mercedes.(2) XT6 gets the 3.0T engine. Both XT6 and XT5 get an Acura-style AWD system that will make them stop feeling so much like front-drivers.(3) XT6, XT5, and CT5 all get a restyle along the lines of the '89 restyle of the DeVille and co. - that is, add length even with overhang if you have to, add swagger, add fancy.(4) New platform for large unibody SUVs, either electric or hybrid, to compete straight across with the top two Range Rover models. If they are going to be a real luxury brand they need SUVs more refined than the Escalade. Keep selling the Escalade alongside the new ones for the existing cigarette-boat audience.(5) XT4 and CT4 get put out of their misery, or maybe brought back as Buicks.
  • Jkross22 Cadillac - We took over the sport sedan market (what's left of it) from BMW. Oh and we also have this Escalade that everyone loves and this EV that looks like Peugeot designed it.
  • Kwik_Shift_Pro4X I would only buy with manual. Even if the auto is repaired, it will most likely fail again. Just a bad design.
Next