Tesla Model 3 Update: When Will Elon Musk’s Gigafactory 3 Begin Production?

Tesla recently confirmed that the Gigafactory 3 construction in Shanghai is currently underway. Tesla’s Chinese partners said that the construction can be finished at a record-breaking period. But when exactly will the Gigafactory 3 start its vehicle production?

According to Global Times, the Tesla Gigafactory 3 construction in Shanghai is currently on its first phase. Two structures are set to be erected on site, and both of the buildings seem to be more than halfway done. However, a worker confirmed that this is just one-third of what Tesla is planning to build on the site.

While there’s much to be done before the Tesla Gigafactory 3 is completed, the pace of the construction is going fast. According to Teslarati, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is confident that the construction will be done by the end of the year, which means it’ll be completed in seven months.

If Musk's words are right, the Tesla Gigafactory 3 construction can beat the usual time, which is 17 months, needed for large factories like this.

Even though the factory’s construction could potentially wrap up this year, Menutor Consulting Shanghai executive director Feng Shiming noted that his sources said production won’t start until next year. Feng added that the Tesla Model 3 mass production may start around two or three months after the beginning of 2020.

The executive director also said that Tesla still isn’t ready to handle mass production this 2019 as they’re still looking for battery suppliers for the vehicles. This part is a crucial component of the vehicle, which means they can’t start without it. While the company isn’t prepared to start production this year, trial productions would definitely kick off this coming September.

In other news, Tesla still has its four variants of Model Y to be released later this year. Many Tesla fans are looking forward to this release as it is a new line of vehicles from Tesla. Possibly, the standard battery variant release of the Model Y may happen alongside the Model 3’s production if the construction follows the schedule.