According to posts on the TM forum, Tesla is (or is considering) opening up more U.S. Signatures if the Canadian Signatures don't meet the 200 target.
Its Time to Build Your Model S | Forums | Tesla Motors
I wonder how long before they update the site, and what kind of uproar that might trigger.
I must admit I'm a bit peeved. It goes against what I recall George saying the other day.
Update:
Here's what I was referring to:
FALSE RUMOR: Founders list might be getting bigger. (GeorgeB responds))
Perhaps I was mistaken in reading into George's response that Tesla was aware of the concern and would not dilute the value of Signature limitedness. Bummer; that apparently is not the case.
Delayed update, life's been busy...
Its Time to Build Your Model S | Forums | Tesla Motors
Canadian pricing out... i am in tears | Forums | Tesla Motorstoto_48313 said:I also talk to the Sales rep, and he told me that if there is any of the 200 Canadian signature spot left by end of september, US customers who request it will have a signature model(depending how much will left from Canada) as they will produce 1200 signature model in North America prior to any general production.
So if you are in the US, you can expect to have between 20 to 50 signature as there is currently just a little bit more than 160 Canadian Sig reservation , and they expect few downgrade to Gen prod. If you are in Canada it's time to configure your signature model.
LottDenn said:Tesla Canada reps told me that was why so many S slots were coming available in the US. People are "voting with their feet" and moving to P cars.
I wonder how long before they update the site, and what kind of uproar that might trigger.
I must admit I'm a bit peeved. It goes against what I recall George saying the other day.
Update:
Here's what I was referring to:
FALSE RUMOR: Founders list might be getting bigger. (GeorgeB responds))
...Discoducky said:I have some good news and bad news.
Good news is that interest in the Model S is crazy from people with lots of money who are being added to the Founders list.
Bad news is that these people are apparently getting ahead of even SSL reservation holders and the Founders list has apparently ballooned to over 200.
...Jkam said:In producing more Founder's series cars, it is diluting the value of plunking down a significant deposit to have one of the first 1,000 cars and is basically allowing people to cut in line.
GeorgeB said:Completely inaccurate rumor. We would never do this to those who have supported us as long-term Model S Reservation Holders. Never.
GeorgeB
Perhaps I was mistaken in reading into George's response that Tesla was aware of the concern and would not dilute the value of Signature limitedness. Bummer; that apparently is not the case.
Delayed update, life's been busy...
brianman said:Hey again.
I've heard that there is a consideration of moving some of the Signature allotment from the Canadian market to the U.S. market.
I've captured some of my thoughts here:
Update? more than 1,000 U.S. Signatures
To me this represents a dilution of the Signature value, which is currently comprised of: exclusivity / limited production, early delivery, red exterior (already diluted by the 2013 Sunset Red), and white interior (which I'm not opting for because it will be difficult to keep clean).
Is this what they had in mind when they said they have some "surprises" in store for Signature owners? It's not what I had in mind.
It's even more troubling doing this after U.S. Signatures have already locked in to their MVPA. I'm not saying it's a breach of contract, but rather that it's a bit slimy to change the U.S. Sig count after lock-in and beneath what I expect from Tesla. This isn't "we had to change the light bulbs due to supplier issues". This would be a Tesla-only marketing decision to dilute the value of U.S. Signatures in the name of recouping lost potential-profit from the Canadian market. At least that's how it comes across to me.
I don't intend to change my reservation over it, but I'd like you to pass on some feedback to the higher ups. I'm definitely not wearing a Tesla smile at the moment.
Walter Franck said:I'm very sorry you aren’t feel the Tesla smile right now.
For 100% transparency, 2500 Signature Model S vehicles are planned for reservation holders around the globe. North America will receive 1,200 in total. Our friends that drive on the other side of the road will receive approximately 500 right-hand drive Signature vehicles. The remaining Signature Model S will be distributed throughout Europe and China.
We finalized the plan to deliver 2,500 Worldwide Signature Model S back in early 2011. At that time, 1,200 were assigned to North America. This number has not changed. We knew demand would be very strong in the U.S. as delivery timing got closer, so we tentatively set aside 200 reservation slots for Canada to make sure US demand did not unfairly limit our Canadian customers from being able to reserve a Signature Model S. Several months ago we began moving towards the 1,200 number in North America by allowing customers on the U.S. waitlist to reserve a Signature Model S. We will not go above the 1,200 originally planned. We are simply achieving the 1,200 planned, while making sure our Canadian customers had a fair chance to reserve as demand increased significantly in the U.S. due to deliveries beginning there sooner.
Something that always gives me the Tesla smile is seeing other automotive advertisements on TV. The electric power train is fundamentally better than an internal combustion engine and the average American still doesn’t really know that. Knowing that how good instant torque combined with a low center of gravity feels is a great reason to smile.
You are going to really enjoy driving this car. I know it feels like an eternity, but we aren't so far away from handing over your keys.
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