Tag: tesla model 3

For Today: Tesla Model 3 ahead of schedule, Teaser video on BMW i8 Roadster

Model 3 schedule announced:  Production of the Tesla Model 3 has cleared regulatory approval and is two weeks ahead of schedule, according to a tweet last night by CEO Elon Musk. The first production model is expected to go off the line this Friday. The first 30 will be delivered to customers on July 28th at a handover party. Musk said the company expects the first 100 cars will be finished in August, and then the ramp up will start with 1,500 or more September. It’s looking like 20,000 per month can be built beginning December, he tweeted. The Model 3 is on track to break the company’s pattern of delaying production and delivery of the Model S and especially the Model X.

Safe and sane:  Green Auto Market will take the day off tomorrow for Independence Day. Have fun and expect to get stuck in traffic.

BMW video on i8 Roadster:  BMW just released a teaser video of the BMW i8 Roadster, which is scheduled to come out next year. The convertible is shown in the video with its removable hardtop in place, covered in camouflage, and being blown over in a wind tunnel. That suggests the i8 Roadster is moving forward in factory and road testing so that it can go to production level. It will be the third member of the i-Series vehicles, and BMW is expected announce the fourth member sometime this year. In May of last year, BMW’s chief Harald Kruger confirmed during a press conference in Munich that the i8 Roadster has been approved for production.

For Today: Musk tweets teaser on Model 3 launch, Europe’s largest utility sees plug-in vehicle sales coming faster than expected

Model 3 release date teaser:  The launch date of the Tesla Model 3 will be revealed on Sunday, according to a Twitter post by CEO Elon Musk. However, the announcement could be other news such as when the production will start next month, or when a production model will be shown during that month. Douglas Bailey spoke for those anxious to learn more in his tweet last night: “please have mercy. I don’t care if you say July 31st – but the speculation on Model 3 final release date has to stop.” Musk responded: “News on Sunday.” Musk said recently that Tesla is “definitely” on track to begin Model 3 production in July. Customers will be able to customize their orders for color and wheel size, Musk told shareholders earlier this month.

European plug-in sales:  The European plug-in vehicle market was up 48% in registrations during May, year-over-year, with 20,568 vehicles sold. It was up 21% over April, according to the European Alternative Fuels Observatory. Plug-in hybrids took the lead with 11,494 units sold, with all-electric vehicles at 9,074 units sold. The Renault Zoe finished in first place with about 10% of the share and 2,065 units sold during the month. The Mitsubishi Outlander retained second place, followed by the Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, and the Volkswagen Passat GTE.

Largest utility backing chargers:  The CEO of Europe’s largest utility sees the pace of plug-in vehicle adoption becoming faster than the global auto and energy industries expect. Italian utility Enel SpA chief Francesco Starace said in an interview in Rome that his company will be investing nearly 300 million euros ($341 million) to install about 12,000 recharging spots across Italy. These vehicles will need a larger charging infrastructure. Starace said that electric cars could help stabilize the grid. It will also provide a small revenue stream to users when they’re recharging through a new ‘vehicle to grid’ technology in Italy. Electric cars become large mobile batteries able to interact with the power grid, supporting renewable energy and helping to balance out power flow.