VIN Assignment

[x0lliex]

Got my VIN this evening
Reserved - 3/31/2016 - in store afternoon
Invited - 4/6/2018
Configured - 4/6/2018
VIN - 4/24/2018
VIN - 202XX

Red, Aero, EAP - Fremont pick up

 

[Zaxxon]

An aero VIN from the 4/6 batch; nice. Hoping my 4/7 configuration VIN is coming soon!

 

[ap105]

Got my VIN this evening
Reserved - 3/31/2016 - in store afternoon
Invited - 4/6/2018
Configured - 4/6/2018
VIN - 4/24/2018
VIN - 202XX

Red, Aero, EAP - Fremont pick up

Nice!! Ordered same config, same day! Around 330pm cst.

 

[alfalcon]

Just got my VIN as well. Seems they're getting ready to turn the line back on tomorrow.

Reserved - 3/31/2016 - in store in the morning
Invited - 3/24/2018
Configured - 3/24/2018
VIN - 4/24/2018
VIN - 205XX

Red, Aero, EAP - Fremont pick up

 

[Fusion]

Just got my VIN also.. I was like what the hay.. let's check.

Reserved - 3/31/2016 - Online in the evening.
Invited - forgot haha 2-3 weeks before configuring
Configured - 3/25/2018
VIN - 4/24/2018
VIN - 17XXX
White, Aero, EAP - Fremont pick up

 

[erthquake]

Only what you already know... Model year... One motor (not two).

Once you have a VIN you may be able to activate your mobile app and (at some point) start talking to the car.
Maybe they won't let you connect until after delivery though.

By the way, congrats on being able to configure (finally) and already getting a VIN. I configured before you but am still waiting for a VIN.

Mobile access isn't enabled until you arrive for delivery. They simply turn it on from the Security settings on the car's screen. Otherwise we'd be driving them crazy with phantom honks and flashing lights .

 

[vinnie97]

With a VIN in the 14k range and still not yet delivered, I'm beginning to feel it's already old hat.

 

[Schowtyme]

Woke up this morning and found my VIN was assigned
Reserved - 3/31/2016 - in store afternoon
Invited - 3/22/2018
Configured - 4/8/2018
VIN - 4/25/2018
VIN - 130XX

Red, Aero, EAP - Jacksonville FL.

I'm a little surprised the VIN is so low, could I be getting a reworked car someone else rejected or is it just that they don't build all the VINs in order?

 

[mwu]

Woke up this morning and found my VIN was assigned
Reserved - 3/31/2016 - in store afternoon
Invited - 3/22/2018
Configured - 4/8/2018
VIN - 4/25/2018
VIN - 130XX

Red, Aero, EAP - Jacksonville FL.

I'm a little surprised the VIN is so low, could I be getting a reworked car someone else rejected or is it just that they don't build all the VINs in order?

I've seen this concern voiced multiple times and I'm not sure that anyone knows. It could be out of order builds, could be a car someone else rejected (though I highly doubt they would deliver the car without reworking problems found), could be a car that was being produced for someone that changed their configuration (I've seen multiple reports of this happening). Also, we don't really know much about their production process -- whether they predictively build cars in certain colors while they have the paint ready.

I would check with the person who calls about delivery. In addition, I would be vigilant on delivery inspection / walk through.

 

[Waiting4M3]

I've seen this concern voiced multiple times and I'm not sure that anyone knows. It could be out of order builds, could be a car someone else rejected (though I highly doubt they would deliver the car without reworking problems found), could be a car that was being produced for someone that changed their configuration (I've seen multiple reports of this happening). Also, we don't really know much about their production process -- whether they predictively build cars in certain colors while they have the paint ready.

I would check with the person who calls about delivery. In addition, I would be vigilant on delivery inspection / walk through.

I've heard others with this concern also, I haven't heard of any follow-up reporting any quality issue after the delivery, so maybe not a real issue?

 

[jimmyjohn]

This is good idea:
--- start a new thread "REJECTED VINs"
--- list the VIN that you, customer, in-person rejected
--- list the reason why

... could be a car someone else rejected (though I highly doubt they would deliver the car without reworking problems found) ...

I doubt that you'd have more than 1 or 2 responses on that thread.

 

[RenMan68]

Nope, keep refreshing every few hours.

Although I did have a dream last night where Elon was my delivery specialist, but never actually took me to the car. It was a lengthy one too.

Anyone care to tell me what my dream means for my VIN?

I had a 'Elon personally delivered the car to me' dream about a week ago. In mine there was only one car, mine, about 20 people in the room doing various things and, like yours, he spent about an hour showing me the car. He was really tired and wearing a t-shirt and jeans. So, let's do some math... 500,000 people getting a 1-hour delivery from Elon himself... he's busy for the next 57 years.

 

[Schowtyme]

Thanks for the responses, I hadn't thought about someone changing their configuration mwu, great point. I too would be interested to hear from anyone that was assigned a VIN not in line with what is expected given the current production ranges.

I'll be sure to ask the person who calls for delivery if there is a reason for the lower VIN and will let everyone know what they say.

As mwu suggested I'll definitely pay more attention during delivery, it's probably nothing but like we all have been waiting a long time for this car, more money than I've spent on a car before and don't want a lemon.

 

[RenMan68]

I've seen this concern voiced multiple times and I'm not sure that anyone knows. It could be out of order builds, could be a car someone else rejected (though I highly doubt they would deliver the car without reworking problems found), could be a car that was being produced for someone that changed their configuration (I've seen multiple reports of this happening). Also, we don't really know much about their production process -- whether they predictively build cars in certain colors while they have the paint ready.

I would check with the person who calls about delivery. In addition, I would be vigilant on delivery inspection / walk through.

Only directly related to your post, but I've thought a lot (more than I should have) about this idea of 'the' paint booth only having one color. I find it impossible to believe that there's only one paint booth - at 3,000 cars / week that's less than 3.5 minutes per car running 24/7. That's not enough time to spray the car and let it bake for at least few minutes to the point where it can roll out of the booth. Given that there's only, what, six or seven colors, I suspect there's probably that many paint booths with, probably, their own unique color "loaded". The point is that I don't think there are block runs of a given color because there must be a number of booths loaded with different colors. If you look at photographs of the Tesla factory line you see lines of cars with different colors right next to each other in sequence - they had to be painted in parallel and then reconvene on the line. I'm sure they do have a color distribution that attempts to be predictive but I suspect it can modified on-the-fly. (number 17,842 goes red, number 17,843 goes blue, etc.) . The bigger block-build problem seems to be the aero wheels. That must be a result of the factory in Mexico sending a number of shipping containers with all 18" or all 19"- their quantized unit is much larger. I submit that the smallest 'block' of colors for the cars is 1. Anybody have any info on this? Any thoughts?

 

[mwu]

Only directly related to your post, but I've thought a lot (more than I should have) about this idea of 'the' paint booth only having one color. I find it impossible to believe that there's only one paint booth - at 3,000 cars / week that's less than 3.5 minutes per car running 24/7. That's not enough time to spray the car and let it bake for at least few minutes to the point where it can roll out of the booth. Given that there's only, what, six or seven colors, I suspect there's probably that many paint booths with, probably, their own unique color "loaded".

Oh, I totally agree -- the color example was definitely simplified and I should have noted that. Sending all cars through one paint booth isn't scalable. They would have more than one and each one is probably capable of spraying different colors without a manual change.

One of the charts I built on model3charts.digitaltorque.com (the one labeled "VIN Colors Assigned by Date") seems to show that they do actually produce many colors every day. Every day has multiple colors of VINs assigned and many days (especially high volume days) have all colors represented.

My main point is that there are a lot of variables that might account for why a low VIN was assigned. While we get tidbits of info and glimpses into what's going on, it's still hard to know which ones affect VIN number assignment without actually seeing their process. Hence my recommendation that communication is opened with the delivery folks and having an eye for detail at delivery (not that I'd suggest any different for anyone else).

Edit to add in detail about Aero vs Sport:
To your point about the Aero vs Sport wheels, here are the numbers I'm seeing from the invite spreadsheet:

• Blue: 2.6 times as many Aero configs as Sport
• Midnight Silver: 2.4 times as many Aero configs as Sport
• White: 2.2 times as many Aero configs as Sport
• Red: 2.9 times as many Aero configs as Sport
• Silver: 1.5 times as many Aero configs as Sport
• Black: 4.3 times as many Aero configs as Sport

That means that on average across the color range, Aero wheels have about 265% of the demand of Sport wheels. That's enough demand that supply could be an issue. The numbers of Sport vs Aero VIN assignments also support that conclusion.

 

[Oldman]

I believe, they only have one or two "paint shops". The drying is done further down the line and does not add up to the spray time in the shop.

The VINs are not strictly connected to a production date. I am quite sure they are grouping the colors in lots.

 

[plexicle]

With a VIN in the 14k range and still not yet delivered, I'm beginning to feel it's already old hat.

Please. I was assigned a 91xx VIN on 4/11 and I won't get it until the middle of May.

 

[MountainRatMat]

Only directly related to your post, but I've thought a lot (more than I should have) about this idea of 'the' paint booth only having one color. I find it impossible to believe that there's only one paint booth - at 3,000 cars / week that's less than 3.5 minutes per car running 24/7. That's not enough time to spray the car and let it bake for at least few minutes to the point where it can roll out of the booth. Given that there's only, what, six or seven colors, I suspect there's probably that many paint booths with, probably, their own unique color "loaded". The point is that I don't think there are block runs of a given color because there must be a number of booths loaded with different colors. If you look at photographs of the Tesla factory line you see lines of cars with different colors right next to each other in sequence - they had to be painted in parallel and then reconvene on the line. I'm sure they do have a color distribution that attempts to be predictive but I suspect it can modified on-the-fly. (number 17,842 goes red, number 17,843 goes blue, etc.) . The bigger block-build problem seems to be the aero wheels. That must be a result of the factory in Mexico sending a number of shipping containers with all 18" or all 19"- their quantized unit is much larger. I submit that the smallest 'block' of colors for the cars is 1. Anybody have any info on this? Any thoughts?

You need to think about the painting a little differently. 3.5 minutes to me sounds like the exact opposite, way too much time between cars for one paint "booth". Think of the paint booth as a giant pizza oven with 10, 20, 50, 100 cars inside of it at once moving along a conveyor belt. The unpainted assembly would be dipped in cleaning/prepping agents and then robotic arms spraying the car as it moves along at a snails pace (I think Elon said like grandma with a walker). These cars aren't built as one off's, they are on a conveyor system that is constantly moving. There is changeover time to switch colors, most likely clearing the line and cleaning/swapping the paint sprayers.

 

[Fusion]

This is good idea:
--- start a new thread "REJECTED VINs"
--- list the VIN that you, customer, in-person rejected
--- list the reason why



I doubt that you'd have more than 1 or 2 responses on that thread.

There is a thread about this...

Post your VIN if you rejected your car.

 

[Oldman]

These cars aren't built as one off's, they are on a conveyor system that is constantly moving.

No they are not moving, not in the paint shop...