Wiki Model S Delivery Update

[DrComputer]

That is a major disappointment. Couple questions for you ...
Were you able to see your car?

Did you see the cars waiting at the service center (near the North end of the factory)? Or, did you see the completed cars at the South end of the factory? Or, both?

Did they mention any 'common' problems that were causing delays? Or, were the problems numerous and spread across various components?

No, I did not see my car as it was in the "burn in" area in another part of the building. All of the cars I did see were in the outh side of the building....about 20 inside next to the water testing area inside and all of the rest were outside. He didn't say much about specifics on what "parts" they were waiting for.

 

[bmek]

No, I did not see my car as it was in the "burn in" area in another part of the building. All of the cars I did see were in the outh side of the building....about 20 inside next to the water testing area inside and all of the rest were outside. He didn't say much about specifics on what "parts" they were waiting for.

So there were around 80 cars outside and the 20 cars inside, for a total of 100?

And the cars that you saw on the production line were VINs 400 to 650?

 

[vfx]

Zapped might work too.

Except it's an off off off brand of EV...

 

[DrComputer]

So there were around 80 cars outside and the 20 cars inside, for a total of 100?

And the cars that you saw on the production line were VINs 400 to 650?

Yes, that's about right just from my rough count of what I saw inside and outside. I was able to quickly look at the production sheets taped to the cars and the orange number cones on the roofs as I walked by them on the line and on the floor.

 

[vfx]

No, I did not see my car as it was in the "burn in" area in another part of the building....

Be curious what your odo will read. 75 or 150....

 

[Derek M]

Has anybody considered that the "quality conrol" holdup might merely be that Elon Musk has been tied up with SpaceX and the launch and engine failure of the the Falcon 9? Since they have said that he is still inspecting every car, I keep thinking that he just hasn't had time to make it to Fremont, and once he does there might be a flood of deliveries.

 

[Norbert]

This one is especially elaborate, from the TM forum:

Model S Deliveries - latest actual info on dates and vehicles being delivered | Forums | Tesla Motors

cmlaff | OCTOBER 14, 2012
Got this today from Tesla;
"I want to be up front and transparent in regards to the extension of the delivery time frame. The reason why it’s been extended is largely due to parts shortages from suppliers. Suppliers has been one of our largest issues during the ramp up of production that Tesla is currently embarking on, and sometimes our suppliers are one step behind (“They do not have their **** together” Elon Musk). Tesla is striving to be as vertically integrated as possible, but in the mean time we face problems such as this one that prevent/extend the production timeline of Model S. As with any car produced, it can only be made with 100% of the parts needed.

Tesla is striving to overcome these challenges during our ramp up, and I know you understand why it may take a few extra days to deliver your Model S during this exciting time with our company. We value our customers patience and faith greatly. The only way we can return your love is by delivering to you one of the best cars in the world."

After anguishing over the long wait for my car I have realized that what many of us on this list have is an electric cardon (sic) and we can't get satisfaction. Until we have consummated our relationship with the best looking car on the road we will grumble and huff like bull elephants in must.

 

[radinator]

DrComputer, I am very curious to hear how your drive down highway 5 and the SuperCharger stop(s) go as I plan on doing the same not too long after I take delivery.

 

[timdorr]

Has anybody considered that the "quality conrol" holdup might merely be that Elon Musk has been tied up with SpaceX and the launch and engine failure of the the Falcon 9? Since they have said that he is still inspecting every car, I keep thinking that he just hasn't had time to make it to Fremont, and once he does there might be a flood of deliveries.

Elon would have to be a moron to require every car have his personal inspection before being shipped. And Elon is not a moron. Personally inspecting 1000 cars is not scalable and terrible micro-managing. What he is likely doing at this point is spot checks. His concerns with these checks aren't about the individual car, but are for looking at the high-level picture of each vehicle and determining if they need to change parts or adjust some assembly process.

- - - Updated - - -

I was not allowed to take pictures of the factory floor but I did see many cars in the 400-650 VIN range on the floor in various stages of completion. There were a lot of completed cars outside waiting for "parts" and final inspection, according to our chaperone (I would guess more than 100)..

This is very good news, as it means the elusive Part Of Doom™ is added late in the production process (it's not something like an axel or a very deep internal part) and therefore this will likely not severely impact overall production. They can continue to store the 99.9% completed cars on site until the parts start flowing again. It also sounds like production rates continue to climb and we're getting close to the likelihood of seeing all Signatures completed this month and now the worst case scenario is seeing them completed early in November (not mid- to late-November).

And all that means I'm probably going to see my car this year

 

[Brian H]

This is very good news, as it means the elusive Part Of Doom™ is added late in the production process (it's not something like an axel or a very deep internal part) and therefore this will likely not severely impact overall production. ...

Yes, as Elon said, "fiddley things". No axles.
Surprised, with all that unused space in the NUMMI plant, they need to store cars outside, tho'!

 

[FlasherZ]

It also sounds like production rates continue to climb and we're getting close to the likelihood of seeing all Signatures completed this month and now the worst case scenario is seeing them completed early in November (not mid- to late-November).

And all that means I'm probably going to see my car this year

My original delivery timeframe was 10/25-11/8 (after a "mid-September to early October" date pre-MVPA, and "October" MVPA date with a qualifier of "early October" from the specialist). The e-mail I received today suggested there will be an additional 2-4 week delay on top of that now, which means that mid-to-late-November or even early December is unfortunately what we're looking at. I'm hoping they'll be able to rein it in, but no one at TM seemed to want to place any bets.

...and Monday was my birthday where I was supposed to receive my Model S to make me smile...

 

[slindell]

Surprised, with all that unused space in the NUMMI plant, they need to store cars outside, tho'!

It's probably cleaner outside than in most of the unused plant.

 

[vfx]

Until we have consummated our relationship with the best looking car on the road we will grumble and huff like bull elephants in must.

Intersting mistake Mr Freud.

 

[Babylonfive]

Im not sure I'm confortable with that allegory. Let's just say I'm excited, and leave it at that. :redface:

Until we have consummated our relationship with the best looking car on the road we will grumble and huff like bull elephants in must.
.

 

[STxTesla]

Originally Posted by ...
Until we have consummated our relationship with the best looking car on the road we will grumble and huff like bull elephants in must.

That line will go down as a classic...

A lusty bull elephant in must.... isn't that a synonym of Super Charger?

 

[jimbakker666]

Originally Posted by ...
Until we have consummated our relationship with the best looking car on the road we will grumble and huff like bull elephants in must.

That line will go down as a classic...

Yeah that's a good one, gets a laugh outta me.

 

[DrComputer]

So I got the e-mail today saying my car is all fixed up and is ready for delivery. I'm having Tesla book me a flight for Thursday and I will take delivery on Friday. I'll then head back to LA on Saturday (to avoid Friday traffic) stopping at the Gilroy, Harris Ranch and Tejon Ranch SuperChargers along the way. I know I don't need to stop at all of them but I want to give each one a try. I'll take some pictures along the way and post them. I will also peek in on the factory again as it was quiet on Sunday because they don't make cars on Sunday.

 

[bmek]

So I got the e-mail today saying my car is all fixed up and is ready for delivery. I'm having Tesla book me a flight for Thursday and I will take delivery on Friday. I'll then head back to LA on Saturday (to avoid Friday traffic) stopping at the Gilroy, Harris Ranch and Tejon Ranch SuperChargers along the way. I know I don't need to stop at all of them but I want to give each one a try. I'll take some pictures along the way and post them. I will also peek in on the factory again as it was quiet on Sunday because they don't make cars on Sunday.

Congratulations!

I may have missed it - what is your VIN?

 

[DrComputer]

Congratulations!

I may have missed it - what is your VIN?

It's in my signature, VIN #272 original sequence #215

 

[Norbert]

I know I don't need to stop at all of them but I want to give each one a try. I'll take some pictures along the way and post them.

Yay!