Tesla Model 3 Updates: Production Is Mission Impossible As Beta Prototype Is Not Complete?

Mar 04, 2017 11:02 AM EST | Andrew Davis

Tesla Model 3 production might be facing a bit a few hurdles along the way and the July 2017 production deadline might be too much of a stretch for Elon Musk's company. Based on the company's 10-K filing, they are yet to complete the prototype of Model 3.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised that first deliveries of the highly anticipated Tesla Model 3 will begin by the fourth quarter of 2017. But this might not actually be pulled off by the company this time around.

Contrary to what Musk said that design has been complete for Model 3 as of last summer, the company's annual 10-K filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 1 revealed that the company has yet to complete a beta prototype vehicle.

What this means is that there is no Model 3 beta prototype as of either Dec. 31, 2016 (SEC filing period) or March 1, 2017 (date of which the document was filed). This also means that fulfilling the production of the company's cheapest EV by July might prove to be difficult.

But CarAndDriver pointed out that Tesla could still remain true to their word and deliver some sort of prototype vehicle per normal company's standards and be on track with the schedule. This would be similar to what the company did with Models S and X back in 2012 and 2015, respectively. And of course, the company has grown since then.

Also, thanks to Model 3's design, which is less complicated compared with Model S and X, completing the electric vehicle by the scheduled date could be feasible. Jalopnik reports that Elon Musk said during an investor's call in 2016: "The Model 3 is the first car Tesla is creating that is designed to be easy to make." He added, "This is really a fundamental difference."

Whether or not Tesla Model 3 could meet its production schedule, we will have to wait until then. You never know, we might suddenly see on the tracks a production version of the highly anticipated Model 3.

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