Tesla has confirmed that its latest electric vehicle, the Model X, will be launching in September but warned that unforeseen problems with suppliers could impact planned production.
Writing to its shareholders, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk said that the company was provisionally on target to launch its crossover SUV in September. Musk said that the company was busy “building validation vehicles, executing final engineering and testing work, enabling our new manufacturing equipment and finalising arrangements with our suppliers”.
Both the company’s Model S and X vehicles will share the same production line to benefit from an “elevated level of production and efficiency”. Musk said that Tesla Motors is hoping to deliver between 50,000 and 55,000 Model S and Model X vehicles in 2015.
However, Musk has warned that the introduction of the Model X could still be delayed due to “many dependencies” that could influence production. Musk added that the company’s planned aggressive ramp in Model X production in Q4 2015 could yet prove disruptive to suppliers. He noted: “A one-week push out of this ramp due to an issue at even a single supplier could reduce Model X production by approximately 800 units for the quarter. Furthermore, since Model S and Model X are produced on the same general assembly line, Model X production challenges could slow Model S.”
But Musk warned investors: “In a choice between a great product or hitting quarterly numbers, we will take the former. To build long- term value, our first priority always has been, and still is, to deliver great cars.”
In related news, Musk confirmed that the company was on track to start production of its Tesla Energy stationary storage products this quarter at its Fremont factory, ahead of another expected production ramp in Q4. Musk added that Tesla Energy storage production would further expand in Q1 2016 when the company’s Gigafactory is opened with its more automated production line.
Musk concluded: “In the coming months we are growing from a single product to a multi-product company. This is a milestone in the maturation of Tesla. We invite everyone to join us in getting to Tesla’s next billion miles and making Tesla Energy a part of our daily lives.”
