Tesla Says Model 3 Production Is On Track Despite Building Batteries By Hand

Tesla says it remains on target with Model 3 production despite reports that battery production is worse than acknowledged.

Late last week, CNBC reported that Tesla has started to make batteries by hand and borrow employees from one of its suppliers to help reach production targets.

The electric automaker most recently said that it intends on building 2500 Model 3s per week by the end of the first quarter. Production will then ramping up to 5000 vehicles per week by the end of the second quarter.

“To be absolutely clear, we are on track with the previous projections for achieving increased Model 3 production rates that we provided earlier this month,” a Tesla spokesman told Autonews.

“As has been well documented, until we reach full production, by definition some elements of the production process will be more manual.”

In a damning report, CNBC claimed to have received word from Tesla employees that the brand is so eager to increase Model 3 production that it is neglecting the quality of its batteries.

“Two current engineers told CNBC that they are concerned some of the batteries being shipped do not have the minimum gap required between lithium-ion cells. These engineers warned that this “touching cells” flaw could cause batteries to short out or, in worse cases, catch fire,” CNBC reported.¬¬

In response, Tesla said the claims were completely false.

“The implication that Tesla would ever deliver a car with a hazardous battery is absolutely inaccurate, contrary to all evidence, and detached from reality. It is irresponsible to suggest as much based on unnamed, anonymous sources who have provided no such evidence and who obviously do not have a complete understanding of the extensive testing that all batteries in Tesla vehicles are subjected to.”