Parking lots full of Tesla vehicles are becoming impossible to ignore as the electric automaker seemingly can’t sell enough cars and trucks to match its rate of production. According to its own figures, the electric automaker produced 46,561 more vehicles than it delivered to customers during the first quarter of 2024. Where are all these cars going? Parking lots at its factories, malls and airports.

The Chesterfield Mall, about 20 miles west of St. Louis, has become an overflow lot for Tesla. Emblematic of American retail’s current state, the mall is slated to be demolished and replaced with a $2 billion mixed-use project. The Staenberg Group, the mall’s owner, is eking out the last drops of revenue before the mall’s remaining tenants have to move out on August 31. Tim Lowe, a Staenberg Group senior vice president, told KTVI:

Lowe estimates that there are at least 300 Tesla vehicles parked at the Chesterfield Mall. However, Tesla isn’t slowing down production, Recent drone footage from the automaker’s Fremont, California factory shows that cars are still rolling off the assembly lines at a high rate to fill the site’s lots. Things aren’t different on the other side of the Atlantic. Neuhardenberg, a small town in Germany of less than 3,000 residents, is complaining about the noise Tesla transporters are making as the company parks cars at the nearby regional airport.

Along with having to store ten percent of the vehicles it builds, Tesla also laid off ten percent of its workforce. The Cybertruck is also proving to be a nightmare for many of the owners who decided to take the plunge on the divisive electric pickup, including a warrant that covers coolant leaks for the first 35 miles.

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Why are hundreds of Teslas parked outside a dying shopping mall? A local news station solved the mystery.

• Hundreds of Teslas are parked outside a mall in Missouri, including dozens of Cybertrucks.

• The mall is closing in October and Tesla needed space to hold excess vehicles.

• Tesla had a decline in EV sales last quarter, which hit 90,000 lower than expected.

Chesterfield Mall, set to shut down in October, has become an unexpected parking lot for hundreds of Tesla vehicles over the last few months.

The Teslas, including Cybertrucks, parked outside of the Chesterfield, Missouri, shopping spot puzzled people passing by, especially as the number of EVs seemed to increase over time.

A couple of weeks ago, local news station KTVI solved the mystery.

According to the report, Tesla is storing unsold vehicles at the mall until it shuts down.

Michael Staenberg, the president of The Staenberg Group, which owns the Chesterfield Mall, confirmed with BI that dozens of Tesla Cybertrucks, along with brand new Tesla Model Ys and Model 3s in various colors, are stored in the lot outside the mall.

Staenberg said Tesla has occupied the space for about six or seven months and can stay until the mall closes in October. He said at least 90 groups are using space at the mall for different purposes before it closes.

"One of our users happens to be Tesla, who does have a dealership in the Valley, but does not have enough capacity at the dealership to park all of the cars they are bringing in," senior vice president of leasing and development at The Staenberg Group Tim Lowe, told KTVI. "So they are renting space within the parking lot to store their cars."

Tesla has a dealership about 2.5 miles away from Chesterfield Mall. Staenberg said 300 to 400 Teslas are stored in the parking lot.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

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Inventory lots aren't uncommon

Tesla isn't the only car brand to store its unsold vehicles outside a dealership.

Excess vehicles are often stored at factory lots close to manufacturing facilities, port facilities, distribution centers, transit compounds, and rail yards.

Ford's Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne stores vehicles before transporting them to dealers or other facilities. General Motors also has a centralized distribution facility in Grand Blanc, Michigan, where it replenishes inventory.

EV makers are struggling with oversupply

Electric vehicle sales across the industry have taken a hit as demand weakens — and Tesla is no exception. Over the past year, Tesla significantly lowered the prices of its EVs, which resulted in lower profits.

Cox Automotive previously said in August 2023, there were nearly twice as many EVs as gas cars sitting at dealer lots.

Around the same time, more EVs were being produced than ever before, forcing dealers to turn them down because inventory was piling up.

Tesla reported its first year-over-year decline in quarterly deliveries last quarter. The EV giant sold about 386,800 cars in the first quarter of 2024, which was about 90,000 fewer than investors expected.

That's 20.1% lower from the fourth quarter of 2023 and 8.4% down from a year ago. It also marked the company's lowest quarterly performance since 2022.

Tesla cited several reasons for a drop in deliveries, including challenges ramping up production of the new Model 3, an arson attack at its factory near Berlin, and supply-chain disruptions linked to the conflict near the Red Sea.

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10 Cars the Middle Class Won’t Be Able To Afford in the Next 5 Years

The cost of owning a vehicle is often higher than you might think, and with maintenance, fuel, insurance and financing costs inflation, it rises even more.

If you’re in the middle class, or otherwise earning an average to above-average income, there are a few vehicles you might not be able to afford in the next several years. Here are 10 of them below. Also, check out 10 of the fastest-selling new cars on the market this year.

Chevrolet Tahoe

“For such a salt-of-the-earth kind of vehicle, Tahoes are becoming rather expensive. It makes sense, the Chevy Tahoe can do just about anything. Still, as a family-friendly SUV, a starting price near $60,000 means that only a few options or a single option package can put the Tahoe out of reach for many families,” said Brian Moody from Kelley Blue Book.

Electric Luxury Sedans (Tesla Model S and Lucid Air)

“The surge in demand for electric vehicles (EVs), driven by growing environmental concerns and government incentives, is pushing prices upward,” said Joe Giranda, director of sales and marketing for CFR Classic. “Luxury EVs, such as the Tesla Model S and Lucid Air, are at the forefront of this trend.”

The 2023 Tesla Model S starts at $74,990. The 2023 Lucid Air starts at $82,400.

“As these models continue to integrate more advanced features and battery technology, their prices are expected to rise further, placing them out of reach,” Giranda added.

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Tesla Model S Plaid

“The Model S Plaid’s price is likely to stay high or even go up as Tesla continues to come up with new ideas and improve the performance of electric cars,” said Blake Shaw, go-to automotive expert at All About Wheels.

This particular model is easily within the $70,000 range, which may be too high for many middle-class households.

Chevrolet Silverado

The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado has a starting price of $36,800. While this might seem reasonable for a new truck like this, you also have to factor in fuel costs, insurance and maintenance.

“Pickup trucks in general have gotten expensive. Even though a ¾-ton 4WD diesel model makes a 2WD gas engine 1500 model look cheap, both options are expensive and only getting more expensive,” said Melanie Musson, auto industry expert at AutoInsurance.org. “The fuel mileage doesn’t help the cost of ownership as full-size trucks get poor mileage compared to other vehicles.”

Land Rover Range Rover

“The newest versions of the Range Rover have more high-tech and luxurious features. As a sign of wealth and off-road skill, the price is likely to keep going up, making it a luxury item to buy,” said Shaw.

The 2024 model starts at $107,400. This is about $3,000 more expensive than the 2023 model.

S-Class Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes has always been a more expensive brand, but prices continue to rise. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, for example, starts at $117,300 — already too expensive for most people in the middle class.

“The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a name that means high-end luxury and cutting-edge technology,” said Shaw. “As Mercedes adds more high-tech features and maybe even makes the model even more electric, it will likely become even harder for the normal buyer to get.”

Jeep Wrangler

Another vehicle that the middle class might be unable to afford in the coming years is the Jeep Wrangler.

“If you’re thinking of a Wrangler as a bare-bones, unrefined off-road vehicle, that’s not an accurate picture of the modern Wrangler,” said Moody. “Base models start at over $30,000 and the price of a new Jeep Wrangler can hit more than $90,000 with custom versions topping $100,000.”

GMC Yukon

“Big SUVs are some of the most expensive vehicles on the market. They tend to be expensive to insure, and they demand a lot of fuel,” said Musson. “The Yukon will be unaffordable because the MSRP and cost of ownership are exceeding the growth in people’s paychecks.”

Right now, the 2024 GMC Yukon costs $58,200 and up.

Cadillac Escalade

“Like the Yukon, the Escalade costs a lot to insure and is a gas guzzler. The fact that it’s a luxury SUV means the MSRP will always be among the most expensive,” said Musson.

The 2024 Cadillac Escalade starts at nearly $82,000. In comparison, the 2022 version was around $76,000.

Honda Odyssey

Minivans like the Honda Odyssey are also becoming less and less affordable, especially when you consider the luxury features and various add-ons you can get.

“Many minivans have a starting price of just under $40,000 and include many luxury features. Many new minivans on dealer lots are closer to the $50,000 mark,” said Moody. “High-tech features combined with continuing demand mean the affordable new minivans may soon be a thing of past.”

Cost Considerations When Buying a Vehicle

“When it comes to car affordability, the most important thing is not to focus too exclusively on the up-front price, but rather on the factors that will influence the long-term viability of your investment,” said Nigel Tunnacliffe, co-founder and CEO of Coastline Academy. “Fuel economy and mileage are some of the main culprits for increased downstream costs, but expensive warranties and unreliable builds can also add up in the long run.”

Insurance costs, maintenance, financing fees, repairs, and state fees — like registration or sales tax — also add to the total cost of ownership.

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2025 VW ID. Buzz will be available in three trims, lots of color combos

The retro-inspired Volkswagen ID. Buzz will reach showrooms in the coming months as a 2025 model, and details about the electric van are beginning to trickle out. The brand has announced that its latest EV will be offered in three trim levels, including one only available at launch.

While the ID. Buzz is already available across Europe, the variant that we're getting for 2025 is a long-wheelbase model that was unveiled in June 2023. It rides on a 91-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, and it comes standard with a single electric motor that zaps the rear wheels with 282 horsepower. Volkswagen's optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive system adds a second motor and increases horsepower to 335.

Buyers will have numerous colors and color combinations to choose from. Metro Silver, Candy White, and Deep Black Pearl are your only choices if you want a single-tone van. The palette gets wider (and more interesting!) when you add the two-tone options. Choose a Candy White top and you can order the bottom in Energetic Orange, Pomelo Yellow, Blue Charcoal, Mahi Green, Metro Silver, Cabana Blue, or Indium Gray; many of these combinations honor the original van. Alternatively, you can select a Metro Silver top and a Cherry Red bottom.

Inside, three combinations specific to the American market are available: Moonlight, Dune, and Copper. Each style combines an array of pre-selected trim, upholstery, and piping colors. Leatherette will be the only upholstery available when the Buzz lands in showrooms, however.

At launch, the range will include three trim levels called Pro S, Pro S Plus, and 1st Edition, respectively.

The rear-wheel-drive-only Pro S comes standard with 20-inch wheels, a power-operated sliding door on each side, a second-row bench seat, a wireless device charger, 30-color ambient lighting, a 5.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 12.9-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system. Volkswagen's IQ.Drive suite of driving aids comes standard, as does Park Assist Plus with a memory function.

Next, the Pro S Plus is offered with rear- or all-wheel-drive. The second-row bench seat that comes standard when buyers select rear-wheel-drive can be optionally replaced with individual captain's chairs, though seating capacity consequently drops from seven to six, while the six-seater layout is the only configuration available with all-wheel-drive. The mid-range trim also gains a nine-speaker, 700-watt Harman Kardon sound system and a head-up display. The list of options grows with an electrochromic panoramic glass roof and a folding trailer hitch.

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As its name implies, the 1st Edition will be only sold at launch, though there's no word yet on how long it will be offered for. Rear-wheel-drive variants get a second-row bench, while all-wheel-drive versions ship with second-row captain's chairs. This trim is two-tone-only, and it gets specific 20-inch wheels, cross bars for the roof rails, specific exterior emblems, the aforementioned glass roof, the Dune interior, and what the carmaker refers to as "heritage-inspired floor mats." Volkswagen notes that 1st Edition buyers will also receive "exclusive gifts."

Pricing and full technical specifications, including driving range and towing capacity, will be announced closer to the ID. Buzz's on-sale date.