Report: Tesla to Build Model 3 Prototypes This Month
Prep on Fremont plant will begin in the next few weeks
Tesla is expected to start production on the Model 3 sedan in about five months, and there's still plenty of work to be done. In preparation for the launch, Tesla will begin building prototypes of the entry-level sedan on February 20, sources toldReuters.
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It's unknown how many prototypes Tesla will build at its Fremont factory, but likely a small number. These units will help Tesla ensure the quality of its vehicle parts and work out any bugs in the assembly system. Tesla announced it will halt production at its California assembly plant for a week this month to help prepare for the Model 3.
During the production stoppage, Tesla will perform general maintenance and add capacity to its paint shop. "This will allow Tesla to begin Model 3 production later this year as planned and enable us to start the ramp towards 500,000 vehicles annually in 2018," a Tesla spokesman toldReuters.
Production and delivery targets shouldn't be affected, Tesla says, because it has added extra production days to compensate for the shutdown.
Last year, Tesla CEO Elon Musk estimated Model 3 production would begin in July 2017. However, he has also said the timeline could be delayed if suppliers don't follow through on time. And given Tesla's history of delays, many analysts aren't optimistic Tesla will be able to meet the goal.
A source toldReutersthat Tesla was still making design changes to the Model 3 as late as last week. More than 370,000 customers have put down deposits for the $35,000 electric sedan, according to the estimates from last May.
As Tesla prepares to build 500,000 cars annually by 2018, or about four to five times the production levels of last year, the automaker reportedly wants to double the size of its Fremont factory. According to reports, Tesla is looking to increase the size of the Fremont plant by about 4.6 million square-feet and add thousands of new employees.
Source: Reuters
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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