This unusual parking lot was discovered near a Tesla service center in Tampa, Florida. Hundreds of new Tesla Model 3s are parked in the field and literally already starting to weed.
Based on VIN codes, it is clear that most cars were manufactured between April and May 2024. And by external signs, it can be understood that these are the updated Tesla Model 3 of the 2024 model year. But there are also pre-styling versions, as well as several Y models.
The photos went "viral" on the Internet (first shared on Reddit by a user named Eric). Another user with the nickname fixumistakes then contacted the local service center and asked questions about the mysterious field of Tesla cars.
He was told that this place was used for temporary storage of new batches of cars. The manufacturer is said to have filled all its territories in the main factories in Florida and Orlando, so the additional space was needed.
Prospective buyers are already expressing concerns that the cars are not being stored properly: the hot Florida sun damages the paint, and the thick grass is full of rodents that like to live in the “innards” of the cars.
Recently, many markets have seen a slowdown in demand for electric vehicles, so the situation seems understandable. After a record final quarter of 2023, during which Tesla delivered 484,507 vehicles, experts now expect a noticeable drop in sales.
So far, Tesla's results have been impressive. Last year, the Model Y crossover became the best-selling electric car in the world with 1,223,000 units sold annually. As for the Tesla Model 3 sedan, it took 10th place in terms of sales. It is worth noting that there are still no other all-electric vehicles in the global Top 10.