A vessel transporting a significant number of Tesla Model Y electric SUVs, the Glovis Caravel, has been directed back to China due to the discovery of a stink bug infestation on board. The Glovis Caravel, boasting a capacity of around 6500 vehicles, had been in a holding pattern off the coast of Brisbane for several weeks while the crew undertook fumigation procedures. The exact count of Tesla Model Y vehicles aboard and the potential presence of Model 3s remain uncertain.
According to ship tracking data, the Glovis Caravel is currently en route to Shanghai and is anticipated to dock at the port at 11 PM tonight.
The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry confirmed the presence of live Yellow Spotted Stink Bugs on the vessel, in addition to other biosecurity concerns.
A spokesperson from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry stated, “The vessel became subject to biosecurity control upon entry into Australian territory. The Department understands that the vessel has left Australian territory to manage the biosecurity risk associated with the goods. There were multiple detections, including Yellow Spotted Stink Bug, which poses a significant threat to Australia’s plant health and environment.”
In an email obtained by CarExpert and sent to prospective Tesla Model Y owners affected by the diversion, Tesla conveyed that the ship was “required to return to Shanghai for further processing prior to re-entering an Australian port.” The email assured customers that Tesla is actively exploring options to expedite delivery and mitigate inconvenience.
“We are actively investigating all available options to get your Model Y to you as soon as possible. This may include reassigning your order to a vehicle from the next batch of production. Further details will be provided in the coming week. Thank you again for your patience, we understand this has been a disappointing experience. However, we want to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to minimize the impact on you.”
Reports from the Tesla Owners Australia Facebook group indicate that Tesla is in the process of reassigning orders for individuals with vehicles on the Glovis Caravel to new vehicles with different VINs, scheduled to be transported on a different ship. The broader strategy for all affected Model Y owners remains unclear.
The timeline for the Glovis Caravel’s fumigation and its subsequent authorization to return to Australia is currently unknown. This incident marks a second instance for the Glovis Caravel, as it faced a similar situation in 2018 when it was turned away from a New Zealand port due to a stink bug infestation.
