Tesla’s big tent amplifies the Model 3 circus
With everything that happens at Tesla — whether it’s Chief Executive Elon Musk’s comments to analysts, the fanatical enthusiasm people have for its cars, or the raised eyebrows from those skeptical over the company’s statements about its potential — it seems like there’s always a circus of activity and attention around the electric carmaker.
And the circus may be at its apex, given what recently sprung up on the grounds of Tesla’s auto-manufacturing plant in Fremont.
It’s a big tent. And “big” might be an understatement, because the thing is said to be the size of two football fields. When you build something that size, it’s kind of hard to hide it, so you might as well admit it exists.
Which is exactly what Musk recently did. And he also said just why the tent is there.
Musk tweeted, “Needed another general assembly line to reach 5k/week Model 3 production. A new building was impossible, so we built a giant tent in 2 weeks.”
The Model 3. Few car companies have gotten as much attention, been the subject of as much anticipation, and, literally, have had as much riding on their success as Tesla with the Model 3. Tesla has set a goal of cranking out 5,000 Model 3s a week by the end
of June. And as this is the last week of the month, a lot of eyes are turning toward Tesla, and that big tent, in anticipation of the company rolling 5,000 Model 3 cars out the door.
Tesla is hoping that the Model 3 will be the car to bring it to a mass-market car-buying audience, and has touted the car’s $35,000 price tag. But, a recent two-day spin in a Model 3 came with a car costing $57,500, and the cars with a 35-grand sticker price aren’t expected to hit the market for at least several months.