Earlier this week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that he expected that the very first production Model 3 would come off the production line on Friday.
Albeit a day late, Musk has now confirmed that Tesla has manufactured the first Model 3 “production unit” at the Fremont factory and it is now “going through final checkout”.
It’s an important moment for the hundreds of thousands of Model 3 reservation holders who are waiting for the vehicle, but also for Musk himself more than anyone else since it’s actually his Model 3.
It’s also a historic moment for the automaker, which is counting on the production of the Model 3, a $35,000 long-range electric car before incentives, to reach the mass market.
As usual, Musk made the announcement on Twitter, where he also said that pictures are coming:
Production unit 1 of Model 3 is now built and going through final checkout. Pics soon.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 9, 2017
Pics or it didn’t happen. No, but seriously. If the “final checkout” goes as planned, it would mean that Tesla has technically reached its goal to start production in July 2017.
Though that production is expected to start slowly. After updating the timeline for the Model 3 ramp up earlier this week, Musk said that he expects to deliver only about 30 units at an event at the end of the month, which would mean that the first unit being produced today will not be delivered for another few weeks.
The CEO added that he expects Tesla to ramp up to ~100 units in August, ~1,500 in September, and he is aiming for Tesla to have a Model 3 production rate of about 20,000 cars per month by the end of December.
But in the meantime, there are still a few things to learn from the first production models since Tesla has yet to confirm all the options.
What will you be looking for with the first pictures of the first Model 3 production unit? Let us know in the comment section below.
Update: Musk also confirmed that he will be the lucky owner of the first Model 3. Early Tesla investor and board member Ira Ehrenpreis had the first reservation, but he gave it to Musk:
Ira Ehrenpreis had rights to 1st car as he was 1st to place a full deposit, but gave those rights to me as my 46th bday present. Tks Ira!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 9, 2017
@elonmusk you deserve it!!! Much love and respect for everything you do for @TeslaMotors, #Renewables, and our #planet. #nooneworksharder https://t.co/UJYTbVAIp0
— Ira Ehrenpreis (@IraEhrenpreis) July 9, 2017
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