Jaguar is delaying some orders of its Tesla rival and blaming high demand
- Some reservation-holders for the Jaguar's electric I-Pace SUV have been told their delivery dates will be delayed by three to four months, Electrek first reported.
- A Jaguar representative told Business Insider some deliveries were being delayed due to high demand, but did not comment on the average length of the delays.
- According to Electrek, all of the delayed orders it had seen were for the standard version of the vehicle, rather than the premium version.
- Jaguar did not comment on whether customers for the premium version of the I-Pace were being prioritized over customers for the standard version.
Some reservation-holders for Jaguar's electric I-Pace SUV have been told their delivery dates will be delayed by three to four months, Electrek first reported.
The publication said Jaguar dealerships are telling customers that manufacturing difficulties are responsible for the delay.
A Jaguar representative told Business Insider some deliveries were being delayed because of "exceptional global demand," but did not comment on the average length of the delays. The representative said the company planned to begin deliveries late in the summer.
"Delivery timelines for certain customers have been affected by prioritization of market specific orders to best meet the exceptional demand of these vehicles," the representative said.
According to Electrek, all of the delayed orders it had seen were for the standard version of the vehicle, rather than the premium version.
Jaguar did not comment on whether customers for the premium version of the I-Pace were being prioritized over customers for the standard version.
The I-Pace is Jaguar's first fully-electric vehicle and will compete against Tesla's Model X SUV. The I-Pace has a 240-mile range, 394 horsepower, 512 pound-feet of torque, and the ability to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The Model X has a range between 237-289 miles and a 0-60 time between 2.9-4.9 seconds, depending on the trim. The I-Pace starts at $70,495, while the Model X starts at $86,300.
The I-Pace has received positive reviews so far. Business Insider has not given the vehicle a full review yet, but in his brief time with the I-Pace, transportation reporter Benjamin Zhang said it was fast and agile, though "smaller" and "less powerful" than the Model X.
"I can see the I-PACE as a complement to the Model X. In fact, I can see the Jag as a viable option for electric SUV shoppers who aren't bowled over by the Tesla's six-figure price tag, crazy doors, and supercar-shaming acceleration," he wrote.
In March, Waymo announced a partnership with Jaguar to include the I-Pace in its fleet of self-driving vehicles for its upcoming autonomous ride-hailing service.