Tesla to begin pre-production of Model 3 this month

Tesla Model 3
Credit: Newsline/Tesla

Tesla is preparing for production of Model 3 (note that it's no longer spelled Model ≡ (check https://www.tesla.com/model3))

● production of current offerings (Model S & X) will shut down for a week, to prepare for production of the Model 3

● building of pre-production Model 3 units will begin on 20 February

Production is scheduled to begin in July of this year. When this was announced last year, anyone familiar with Tesla's performance against target dates was skeptical. However, pre-production beginning on 20 February is consistent with Model 3 production beginning on schedule.

Charged EVs – “Tesla pauses production to tool up for Model 3”
https://chargedevs.com/newswire/tesla-pauses-production-to-tool-up-for-model-3/

Reuters – “Tesla pausing factory for Model 3 preparation this month”
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-model-idUSKBN15N2W7 / Tesla Inc shut down production California assembly plant week prepare for production high-volume Model 3 sedan mass market company meeting target start production July Tesla brief, planned pause company add capacity existing paint shop prepare for Model 3 other general maintenance Tesla begin Model 3 production later this year planned start the ramp towards 500,000 vehicles annually 2018 Tesla spokesman pause material impact first-quarter production delivery figures added production days to compensate luxury electric carmaker planned begin test-building Model 3 20 February February 20 Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk more than 370,000 customers deposits down Model 3 start building cars July 2017 analysts and suppliers timeline too ambitious difficult to achieve Tesla's history missing production targets Tesla starting pilot production factory Fremont California shareholders two days later reports fourth-quarter results Model 3 rollout stoke the fan base highly anticipated vehicles Tesla small number test assembly system quality of vehicle parts stoke the fan base Wall Street pre-production models earnings announcement Tesla's plans Tesla spokesman production schedule Elon Musk investors July 2017 startup target suppliers deadlines Tesla Model 3 government incentives sedan Tesla niche luxury player automotive sector Tesla $41.4 billion market capitalization equals Nissan Motor Co Ltd Elon Musk bold approach cars space exploration clean energy investor enthusiasm Tesla skeptics Elon Musk promise producing 500,000 cars per year by 2018 Tesla 373,000 refundable $1,000 deposits for Model 3 production total sales fully electric vehicles /