Tesla Model Y release date: Company achieves ‘best ever first quarter’ despite COVID-19 woes with crossover’s deliveries

As electric car enthusiasts know, the Tesla Model Y is the latest addition to the company’s lineup after its delivery timeline was adjusted a few months earlier than planned. The timeliness of its release has apparently helped the company report a good first-quarter performance despite the COVID-19 crisis that started to peak in the United States in March.

Tesla Model Y release boosts company’s delivery target

In an SEC filing, Tesla reported having delivered around 88,400 electric car units, 76,200 of which are shared by the Model Y and the Model 3. The company did not indicate specific delivery numbers for each car model. However, one can assume that the crossover SUV would still account for a significant share considering it is the latest car released.

Out of the 102,672 produced in the first quarter of 2020, Tesla also reported that it delivered 12,200 units of Model S and Model X. “Model Y production started in January and deliveries began in March, significantly ahead of schedule. Additionally, our Shanghai factory continued to achieve record levels of production, despite significant setbacks,” Tesla reported.

The total number of cars Tesla delivered is quite impressive. Considering that analysts have estimated an average of 77,400 cars delivered by each automaker in Q1 2020, Tesla’s performance is noteworthy.

How Tesla maintains social distancing while fulfilling deliveries

The Tesla Model Y was initially anticipated to be released in late 2020. But as the end of 2019 came closer, the company’s timeline kept changing, leading to the March delivery target that Tesla was able to accomplish.

Customers in the U.S. and Canada confirmed they received email confirmations in late February, promising that the Tesla Model Y they ordered will be delivered in mid-March at the earliest. Meanwhile, confirmed cases of coronavirus infections in the U.S. started to climb significantly in March, but that has not stopped Tesla from fulfilling deliveries.

Within the second half of March, Tesla announced it would continue to deliver vehicles but with a new and “touchless” process to maintain social distancing. That practically meant no direct interaction between customers and Tesla employees. Customers will pick up their cars at a designated parking lot, fill out necessary documents placed inside the vehicle, and leave those papers at Tesla’s assigned office.