Tesla is doing all it can to get the target release date of the Model 3 on track and has even expanded to include German manufacturing expertise.
In an announcement on its website, Tesla Motors confirmed that the automaker has acquired Germany-based Grohmann Engineering and that the partnership has resulted in the new Tesla Grohmann Automation Germany.
The expansion is said to be one of Tesla's steps to make sure that its future projects, starting with the Model 3, will enter into production as scheduled. Reportedly, Tesla's CEO Elon Musk is targeting a late 2017 release for the Model 3, giving only as much as a year to get into production. Aside from the new Germany-based facility, Tesla has recently expanded its Fremont, California assembly plant in order to accommodate the Model 3. The California production line is already hard at work in assembling the Model S and the Model X vehicles.
Meanwhile, it is said that the formation of the new Tesla Grohmann Automation Germany partnership is also an answer to Musk's expansion plans for the company, not just to accommodate Model 3 production. Ostensibly, the company executive is targeting at least 500,000 vehicles off their production lines by 2018. With the acquisition, Tesla is set to hire at least 1,000 engineers and technicians over the next two years to cope with production targets. This is a massive boost from recent numbers, at least 400 percent increase in production. According to figures, Tesla managed to deliver 50,648 vehicles in 2015, while targeting at least 80,000 units this year.
Some industry observers are also saying that Tesla expanding into Germany is a first step for the company's future expansion of operations – as well as marketing — in Europe.
Tesla has yet to come out with specific release dates for the Model 3, although experts agree that with recent production improvements, the tech maker may get to launch its cheapest vehicle lineup on track for late 2017.
