The electric vehicle world is pretty quiet right now; following the much-hyped launches of the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt (and subsequent criticisms of the Volt’s safety), there hasn’t been much to pique mainstream America’s interest. That’s going to change soon, when the Tesla Model S, billed as "the world’s first premium electric sedan," rolls off the assembly line.
At $49,000 (with a $7,500 tax credit), the vehicle isn’t incredibly cheap--but it’s a bargain compared to Tesla’s old offering, the $109,000 Roadster. And after months of Tesla teasing us with pictures and video, the Model S is finally going to be released on Friday. But Tesla has released some teaser videos of the car in the factory, so we can take a look at the production process of the vehicle. In the video above, we can watch as the vehicle gets stamped.
Below, we can see the body center, a place where robots rivet and weld to their hearts’ content.
Next comes the painting process:
And finally, the assembly center, where high-definition 3-D cameras properly position the panoramic roof, the seats, center console, and the drivetrain and batteries are installed. Exterior components are also added. Then, according to Tesla, comes the industry’s first "all-glass water test booth, where it is sprayed by water from 360 stationary nozzles to ensure your car has perfect water tightness."
The Model S certainly has its skeptics. This Slate article sarcastically notes that the
"Tesla Model S is practical and affordable, as long as you’re rich."
And many people agree that this is a make or break moment for Tesla. For the sake of the larger electric vehicle industry, we hope Tesla succeeds. At the very least, the industry could use a little excitement. Stay tuned--we’ll be at the Model S launch this week and will come back with in-person impressions.
COMMENTARY:
FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. PDT
It’s really happening. In three days, we will be delivering Model S. I've heard from many of you that you would like to be a part of this incredible occasion, and we definitely want you to be there. In order to make this happen we will be providing a live webcast of the event on ourInside Tesla page. Join us from your home, office, or mobile device at around 3:30 p.m. PST this Friday to watch some of our very first Model S customers receive their keys. For many of us, this is something we have been looking forward to for a long, long time. We hope you join us to share this incredible moment.
I look forward to seeing many of you this weekend at the Fremont test drive event and look forward to your recommendations on the Opportunity Console. Next week will be the final installment of Inside Tesla. It will be filled with lots of images and anecdotes from our delivery event.
The countdown is now almost complete and it’s time for you to drive Model S. See you on the road!
GeorgeB
Courtesy of an article dated June 21, 2012 appearing in Fast Company Exist
Comments