The Tesla Model 3 lives up to its hype, although its production and delivery still have issues that Tesla CEO Elon Musk needs to sort out.
Perhaps the biggest news about the Model 3 in more recent times is its delivery delays. In 2016, Musk called his company's automobile production a "production hell," with the company repeatedly pushing back its production targets. It seems that Tesla is still in production hell, with its Model 3 sedan failing to meet the goals the company set for itself.
The company's actual output has not met target numbers for the Model 3. The third quarter of 2017 saw only 222 units of the Model 3 delivered to customers, although Tesla's target production was 1,500 units. This was further complicated by the fact that by that point in time, hundreds of thousands of people were already on the waiting list for a new Model 3.
Even with these delays, Musk still predicted that Tesla would be able to produce 5,000 units of the Model 3 per week by the end of 2017. However, Musk announced that this target timeline was pushed to March 2018. These delays have prompted analysts to criticize Musk for overpromising, yet under-delivering.
Once the Model 3 units emerge from Tesla's "production hell," however, they prove to be well worth the wait. The Model 3 is cheaper than the older Model S, but it seems to be better than its predecessor in terms of design and technology.
The build quality of the Model 3 is also something that reviewers have been keeping an eye on. Generally, the car boasts a good build quality, although there may be small and various imperfections in each unit. For example, consumers may find things like crinkled upholstery, or door handles that may not line up perfectly with each other.
Some drivers may overlook these imperfections, while some may think that these imperfections should not appear in a car with a price tag that starts at $35,000.
The good news is that build quality is something that automobile makers can and often do improve upon. Tesla's cars have received generally good feedback from customers, which means that those who have actually spent money on Tesla models are satisfied.
Whether or not Tesla will be able to meet its target production numbers for March remains to be seen. Thus, those who want to avail of a Model 3 will probably need to wait a while before they get their hands on their new car. However, it looks as though the finished product is worth the wait.
