Some Tesla clients in Florida and California have skilled supply delays of weeks or months, forcing them to depend on borrowed automobiles, pricey leases and ride-hailing apps whereas they climate the sudden wait.

Tesla acknowledged Mannequin S delays earlier this yr, however the supply points lengthen to the Mannequin Y, Tesla’s crossover SUV and hottest automobile in North America, based on a number of clients who spoke to CNBC.

The persevering with delays are an indication that Tesla continues to be scuffling with the “supply logistics hell” that Elon Musk referenced in 2018 as the corporate dramatically will increase its automobile manufacturing. The corporate delivered greater than 201,250 automobiles in Q2, an organization file and a 144% improve from the year-ago quarter. Provide chain shortages, which the corporate mentioned on its final two earnings calls, may additionally be taking part in an element within the delays.

A Tesla gross sales worker in California instructed CNBC that gross sales and supply employees are doing the very best they’ll to reply questions from upset clients, however don’t have sufficient info from higher-ups or the Tesla manufacturing facility in Fremont, California, to reply them exactly. This particular person requested for anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk to the press about firm issues.

The worker stated a colleague in one other state resigned after managers threatened to fireplace him final quarter as a result of he “broke the chain of command” by sending an e-mail to CEO Elon Musk and different managers in Fremont searching for details about the Mannequin S delays.

After that, some gross sales employees felt hesitant to hunt additional particulars on behalf of shoppers, the gross sales worker stated. CNBC reviewed inside correspondence corroborating the gross sales worker’s account of occasions.

Usually, gross sales and supply staff are conscious that Tesla has confronted components shortages and challenges implementing using new equipment on the Fremont plant, this particular person stated. These points have been mentioned by executives on prior Tesla earnings calls.

One bemused Tesla buyer, Steve Salem, positioned his order for a long-range all wheel drive Mannequin Y with premium inside and silver metallic paint on Could 31. He had test-driven the automobile outdoors of New York Metropolis, and later ordered on-line, arranging to choose up the automotive in Los Angeles the place he would quickly be dwelling.

In accordance with data and correspondence he shared with CNBC, Tesla’s website initially stated a Mannequin Y ought to be accessible in an estimated 4 to eight weeks, placing the late finish of his estimated supply window across the week of July 26.

After inserting his order on-line, paying a $100 non-refundable price to take action, the Tesla website confirmed Salem a brand new estimated supply window with Aug. 10 as the newest doable supply date. The dates continued to alter in his Tesla account, and Salem says he didn’t obtain apologies from gross sales employees and even e-mail notifications with every change. The date vary shifted all the best way into October at one level, after which again to a date in late August. As of Monday this week, the estimated date was between Sept. 4 and Sept. 24.

Three different clients who’re ready for Mannequin Y and Mannequin S automobiles additionally instructed CNBC that they needed to maintain checking their accounts to detect modifications to their estimated supply dates.

Whereas he hasn’t given up on his Tesla, Salem stated he might need to finally. “I am lucky that I am not in determined want for a automobile. However I might prefer to drive the automotive,” he stated.

He organized financing by way of a third-party lender, and would not anticipate any bother getting one other mortgage authorised. However delays might impact his mortgage charge, and he may also must get a brand new insurance coverage quote. “It is a trouble,” he stated. “At a sure level do you say the heck with this and attempt to get one thing else? It is irritating — not simply the delays however the whole lack of communication.”

If Tesla can not agency up a supply date, Salem stated he might order a Ford Mach-E or revert to a high-performance inside combustion engine automobile. The Mannequin Y was going to be his first battery electrical.

One other would-be proprietor of a long-range, all-wheel-drive Mannequin Y in Southern California ordered from the Tesla website and acquired a affirmation by e-mail on June 6. This buyer, who requested to stay unnamed to keep away from confrontations on social media, had roughly the identical expertise as Salem.

She shared data indicating that her unique estimated window for supply was between Aug. 4 and Aug. 24 in Burbank, California. The date slipped repeatedly, and she or he says the corporate by no means proactively reached out to her concerning the modifications.

When she noticed the dates altering in her Tesla account on-line, she texted a gross sales worker to ask whether or not the supply dates would maintain getting pushed additional out. The worker failed to offer specifics, however reassured her that employees would maintain an eye fixed out for a black Mannequin Y that will turn into accessible sooner within the space.

In a single textual content message to this gross sales worker, this buyer requested if there have been issues in manufacturing. The worker replied in early August that Tesla had manufacturing delays attributable to a chip scarcity, and stated many different automotive firms have been coping with the identical factor.

As CNBC has beforehand reported, chip shortages have lately prompted manufacturing and supply delays of Ford’s Mustang Mach-E crossover and in July, prompted Rivian to delay manufacturing and deliveries of its debut RIT electrical pickup, and R1S SUV (however not its industrial supply vans which it’s making for Amazon).

This buyer is now anticipating to obtain her Tesla a while between Sept. eighth and Sept. twenty eighth. She instructed CNBC she has spent extra on leases and ride-sharing than she and her finacee deliberate to spend leasing and insuring their Mannequin Y from Tesla.

She’s prepared to attend for the Tesla, however desires an evidence from the corporate. And now, since she’s planning to be out of city for a number of weeks, she is apprehensive the corporate will make her wait months extra if she will’t take supply.

Lastly, two clients who’ve been ready for Tesla’s higher-end Mannequin S luxurious sedans instructed CNBC they’ve been ready for months.

One engineer, who works in utility-scale renewables, ordered his Mannequin S Plaid in January, and deliberate to take supply on the Ft. Meyers, Florida, Tesla dealership. He requested to stay un-named citing privateness issues, and stated he’s irritated each time a YouTuber exhibits up in a video with a Mannequin S Plaid. It made him surprise if the corporate is permitting folks to chop the road if they’ve devoted fan accounts on social media.

Whereas he has already waited for months, he stated he won’t ever surrender on getting his dream automotive from Tesla. He’s drawn to the Mannequin S Plaid’s design, efficiency and the enchantment of a automobile that can have new options added or outdated options refined through over the air software program updates.

Barry Stuppler, founding father of a uncommon cash and treasured metals wholesale enterprise, first ordered a Mannequin S Plaid in January, as CNBC beforehand reported. On Aug. 10, he instructed CNBC, Tesla moved his supply date to the very finish of the third quarter — Sept. 21 by way of Sept. 30.

Final week, he went to a Mercedes supplier and configured and ordered an all-electric Mercedes 450 EQS, with no deposit required. The gross sales employees there stated he would have a value quote and automobile identification quantity by late September, and he might take supply in November. He stated if the Mercedes arrives earlier than his Tesla, and is not greater than the value he is anticipating, he’ll cancel the Mannequin S Plaid order.

Even well-known folks aren’t immune. On Tuesday, rock musician David Crosby tweeted {that a} Tesla he ordered seven months in the past has nonetheless not confirmed up, and alleged that Tesla had “lied to us 4 occasions about once we would get it.”

Crosby was not instantly accessible for remark.

Tesla and Troy Jones, the corporate’s Vice President of North American Gross sales, Service and Supply, didn’t instantly reply to a request for additional info.