Ever since Elon Musk first announced that Tesla will be making a relatively affordable electric sedan in 2016, people have been waiting with bated breath to get their hands on the steering wheel.
Even multiple manufacturing delays couldn’t diminish that anticipation.
Cheddar’s Hope King got a first-hand look at the mass market vehicle Monday with Josh Ong, an eager customer on Tesla’s months-long waitlist.
“For me the first reason I wanted it was the technology,” said the communications director at Cheetah Mobile. “This is really the ultimate gadget.”
More than a half million people have preordered the Model 3. But after multiple delays -- Tesla delivered just 1,500 of the vehicles in the fourth quarter -- many have given up and canceled their requests.
The global semiconductor shortage is actively hurting numerous industries, with the auto industry itself on pace to lose $210 billion by the end of the year. Brad Wimmer, EVP at Auto Lenders, joined Cheddar to discuss a White House meeting surrounding chip shortages and how industries can find a way to move forward. He noted that the end of the shortage is unlikely if the U.S. continues to depend on outside manufacturers. "We need consistent momentum and clarity, and we do not have that right now," Wimmer said. "So, I think this is going to continue into 2023."
