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Tesla has given shareholders a sneak peek at its forthcoming Model Y SUV with a shadowy teaser image.
Shown at the US car maker's shareholders' meeting earlier this week, CEO Elon Musk indicated the new model should hit the roads in 2019 and will sit between the Model 3 saloon and the larger Model X SUV.
Musk also confirmed the Model Y - which will sit on its own platform, rather than an adaptation of the Model 3's structure - is set to be built at a different factory to the rest of the range because Tesla's plant in Fremont, California is "bursting at the seams".
In addition, he announced that Model 3 production is due to begin next month with the electric car maker aiming to build 5,000 Model 3s a week by the end of this year and 10,000 a week next year.
Last year, the brand told BusinessCar it had reached a 'tipping point' for fleet sales, which are likely to increase once the Model 3 arrives on our shores.
"The strength of RVs for our cars has been a huge help in overcoming concerns about EVs with some fleets," Davide Ghione, European enterprise sales manager, said. "Now that our cars have a proven record of reliability and low SMR costs, we're seeing increasing interest. Most of that is from SMEs at present, but this is only because it takes longer to become established with larger fleets due to their validation processes. We also had the confidence to underwrite RVs when the Model S was launched three and a half years ago."
Ghione believes that Tesla's direct approach to fleet customers also helps it build and maintain relationships that larger carmakers do not have.
"We don't see our job as just selling a car," he said. "It's a much more consultative process as some of what we have to do is educational and we also might have to deal with a wider base of people than only the fleet manager. For instance, we might liaise with a facilities manager to make sure the right charging solution is in place."
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