In a tweet late Sunday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted that his company will begin delivering the first batch of the much-awaited ‘Model 3’ sedans to customers on July 28, adding that the car has passed all regulatory requirements for production two weeks ahead of schedule (via The Wall Street Journal). Using an abbreviation for Model 3 serial number one, Musk wrote “Expecting to complete SN1 on Friday”.
Handover party for first 30 customer Model 3’s on the 28th! Production grows exponentially, so Aug should be 100 cars and Sept above 1500.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
Musk also announced on Twitter that production would increase “exponentially,” with 100 cars in August, more than 1,500 in September and 20,000 per month in December. A successful rollout of the Model 3 is crucial for Tesla, not only for Musk’s so-called “master plan” of moving consumers to sustainable energy sources, but also for the company’s financial future.
Tesla is aiming to produce a half-million cars by 2018, an enormous leap over last year, when the company produced only 85,000 units. Early Model 3 customers can choose the car’s color and wheel size. Later customizations include two motor options: one optimized for highway driving and the other for stop-and-go traffic.
The fully electric Model 3 is expected to cover a range of 215 miles on one charge and, sell at an estimated price of US $35,000.
