Tesla’s first EV plant stoppage has started at the Fremont Factory in California, just a week after CEO Elon Musk said production facilities would be closed at various times throughout the third quarter to perform plant upgrades.
Musk said during the Q2 earnings call that Q3 production would be down as the company upgraded its production facilities, perhaps to make way for new vehicles.
“Although, we expect that Q3 production will be a little bit down because we’ve got summer shutdowns to---for a lot of factory upgrades," Musk said. "So, just probably a slight decrease in production in Q3 for sort of global factory upgrades.”
Tesla is likely preparing production lines for new vehicle builds of the Model 3, as well as some reorganizing to make more room at the space-confined Fremont Factory.
For the last few months, Teslarati has reported on several upgrades at Fremont. These filings with the City of Fremont detailed tool installs, line upgrades and space improvements.
It appears Tesla is already beginning the upgrades at Fremont, as noted by YouTube user Met God in the Wilderness, who flies a drone over the production plant once a week.
In a video uploaded July 25, logistics lots were nearly empty, entrances to those lots were closed and haulers were nowhere to be seen, likely because there was nothing rolling off the production line. Additionally, there was very little movement in casting and manufacturing portions of the factory.
Rumors of Tesla’s Model 3 Highland have circulated as of late, and because of several on-road sightings over the past few months, Teslarati believes the new, redesigned sedan is likely the reason for these upgrades. Tesla has even listed some filings at Fremont with the Highland name.
Tesla has not confirmed the stoppages are occurring at Fremont, and the automaker does not operate a press department. However, with how busy the factory is on a normal day, it is unlikely things are this slow for any reason other than the plant is getting upgrades.
Abby Andrews