Tesla Races to Meet Model 3 Production Goal

Tomorrow will be Tesla Inc.’s last day to boost output enough to reach its production goal of 5,000 Model 3 electric sedans per week.

The company has been scrambling since March, when it missed the deadline for the second time. The company initially had expected to achieve the 5,000-unit level by the end of 2017.

This month Tesla has been augmenting Model 3 output with a manual assembly line set up in a giant tent outside its main factory in Fremont, Calif. CEO Elon Musk predicts victory, declaring that naysayers are “in for a rude awakening” when the company reports production data next week.

Analysts have long noted that Tesla’s ability to mass produce the Model 3 is a critical measure of the carmaker’s ability to generate sustainable profits.