Tesla's is Expediting Model 3 & Model Y Reservations That Include its $12,000 Full Self-Driving Add-On

Delivery estimates for Tesla's most popular offerings are being pushed  to later this year. Currently, May 2022 is listed as the estimated delivery time for a Model 3 on Tesla's configurator. But if you want a Model Y crossover, you will have to wait until at least September

However, Tesla customers can substantially cut their delivery times by opting for one particular feature. The California EV manufacturer is prioritizing reservations for customers purchasing the Full Self-Driving (FSD) add-on. For those unfamiliar with Tesla's FSD feature, it's a $12,000 option on top of the price of the vehicle.

In addition to a Full Self-Driving computer, the FSD option adds other features,  including Autopark, Summon, Navigate on Autopilot, Auto Lane Change, and Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control. 

What's interesting is that the delivery estimate for Model Y with FSD changes from September to May. This means Model Y customers will have to wait three times longer if they do not opt for FSD. 

Surprisingly enough, adding the optional FSD package does not change the delivery estimate for Model 3 sedan as drastically as it does for Model Y. Instead of May, customers can get their Model 3 by next month if they opt for the FSD option.

Since FSD costs the same for both offerings, it's quite an expensive expedition fee in order to get a Model 3 a month early. 

The Model Y crossover is the newest addition to the Tesla lineup. Deliveries began two years ago and helped Tesla expand its market share worldwide. Recently, the Tesla Model Y made its UK debut. 

Tesla's Gigafactory Berlin also received environmental approvals recently which paves the way to begin production. The new European manufacturing facility will allow Tesla to increase its production output substantially. As a result, the company claims that it will deliver German-built Model Ys in just two weeks.

Tesla also increased the prices of its Model Y and Model 3 variants which do not use the new lithium iron phosphate battery (LFP) battery. The spiking prices of Nickel probably caused the $1,000 price hike. 

Nevertheless, the demand for Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y continues to grow, partly due to skyrocketing gas prices.