Model 3 had incredible fast development speed

[jsrawa]

Besides, the definition of 'production' used by Tesla is a bit murky. Delivering 30 cars to selected company insiders and investors doesn't instill too much confidence in the production quality or completeness.
it also doesn't look like those 30 cars were produced on the final assembly line. GM's Bolt line was up and running by mid 2016.

Has anyone seen the monroney sticker for Model 3 yet? More than 2 weeks have passed since July 28th event. We should have seen 30-40 more cars delivered by now. GM delivered 579 Bolts in the first month of Dec 2016.

Edit: @tescroft , See Bolt timeline in first link in reply #2. GM delivered 579 Bolts in the first month.

During the ER conference call Elon insisted those vehicles were off the production line, take that for whatever you want.

A monroney sticker was seen in a picture of an open frunk at the delivery event although only the larger numbers could be made out in the photo. Tesla clearly hid these in the frunk on purpose during the event. I would attach the photo but you can search the forum for monroney.

 

[timk225]

Based on the S and X, a lot of the 3's development was already done or well under way. Many parts, like suspension and brakes, were a direct swap-in, no development needed.

 

[JeffK]

The Model 3 has been in development since at least 2014.

I don't believe the clay model from 2010 was the Model 3 but the 2015 one (far right) is extremely likely.

Also let's remember that the gigafactory, absolutely necessary for the Model 3, was started in 2014. The name, size, and pricing was announced July 2014. We also learned about the lower cost battery technology in 2014. A $35,000 Tesla Model III Is Coming In 2017

In Oct 2015 JB mentioned

Most of the people inside Tesla are no longer working on the S or X, but are hard at work designing and inventing all the technologies going into the Model 3

 

[cwerdna]

On this note, GM versus Tesla: Pre-Production Comparison for Meeting Model 3 Deliveries At 2017's End was published 8 months ago. I'm sure it was discussed here on TMC before.

 

[electracity]

First registered Bolt Sales were december 2016 so I don't think the line "was up and running mid 2016"

Engineers were driving the Bolt home last summer, IIRC. In Tesla parlance that is "in production".

 

[mmd]

First registered Bolt Sales were december 2016 so I don't think the line "was up and running mid 2016"

We may be in a little gray area here. But the pre-production Bolts were being assembled on the assembly line (probably mostly hand built) in March 2016.
GM Just Sent Its First Chevy Bolt EV Down the Assembly Line

The first Chevy Bolt was sent down an assembly line at a plant in Orion, Mich., the same factory that makes the Buick Verona and Chevy Sonic, according to Michelle Malcho, spokeswoman for GM's Chevy cars unit.

 

[stopcrazypp]

Did anyone notice how fast Tesla managed to bring Model 3 to production? The prototype was demonstrated 2016, and 2017 it is in production.

In comparison (Prototype demonstration -> Production)

Model S: 2009 -> 2012 (3 years, 4 months)
Model X: 2012 -> 2015 (3 years, 7 months)
Model 3: 2016 -> 2017 (1 year, 4 months)

This is incredibly fast. I doubt any other car maker is that fast. Usually, 3-4 years are needed from prototype to production level. Chevy Bolt was also fast (1 year, 10 months), but not as fast as model 3. Do you know of any modern car in the industry which has been developed as fast as the model 3?

I think it makes more sense to sync by alpha prototype, not the first concept prototype (because that may simply be a sign Tesla kept things under wraps longer for Model 3, not necessarily development time).

The Model S alpha prototype was finished somewhere in December 2010 to January 2011. First deliveries June 22, 2012. This is roughly 1 year, 6 months.
Tesla employee: Model S alpha prototype up and running

Model 3 alpha prototype finished in March 2016 (maybe even a bit earlier, but this is the earliest confirmed date). First deliveries can be counted at July 9, 2017 (Elon's) or July 28, 2017 (Official delivery event like Model S). 1 year, 3-4 months.
tsla-10q_20160331.htm

In that context, it's about the same.

 

[Sportstick]

We may be in a little gray area here. But the pre-production Bolts were being assembled on the assembly line (probably mostly hand built) in March 2016.
GM Just Sent Its First Chevy Bolt EV Down the Assembly Line

View attachment 241435

That's a highly staged PR shot of a development car. Where are the operator stations? Where are the display racks of materials? Heck, where are the operators? The lights are on but there is no testing umbilical attached.

The clock doesn't stop ticking for that beauty shot....that's not at all V1 (volume production) yet.

 

[scaesare]

Tesla has silicone powered logistics that allow them to supercharge product development.

Sounds s3xy...

 

[AssortedBread]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the 2010 clay model. (Model x)

View attachment 241366

Yeah thats the model X clay model.

I'm surprised nobody has shown the model 3 clay model from 2010

Here it is.

 

[JeffK]

Yeah thats the model X clay model.

I'm surprised nobody has shown the model 3 clay model from 2010

Here it is.
View attachment 241493

Earlier threads were pretty sure it was a model S prototype, or Model X, or ... I don't know... lots of debate on that thread.
Mysterious Clay Model?

 

[electracity]

The apparent refinement of the model 3 suggests it has been under development for a long time. The "rush" part is getting the car ready for volume manufacture.

The model X is the best example of rushing development. When a car company's best option is to build second row seating in-house the development process is broken.

 

[eisbock]

To be fair, production hasn't really "started" yet.

Clever move on Tesla's part to meet deadlines and investor-related goals when real production won't start for at least another 4-5 months, bringing it more in line with the Bolt.