Failure to launch- Tesla has delivered 15 Model X vehicles in 3 months

Thanks Brad and Donald. Using the word "Delivery" would have been a fair way to say it. However, in the world of automotive commerce a sale is the event that happens when a buyer gives the car company or its authorized dealer the money (or a bank does as a finance arrangement), and the automaker then provides the customer with a vehicle. Automakers are very careful to report their sales each month (which are sometimes "sales to dealers" with a "time on the lot" figure). We did cover the pre-orders here at TN, and I did include a link to the story in this new one. Tesla is not the only company that allows customers to reserve and order vehicles. In fairness, it is one of the best at it. Ferrari is probably THE best. It frequently has all of its production spoken for before the cars are built. The sale occurs when the vehicle is transferred to the buyer and payment made. Let's all agree that if Tesla delivers several hundred Model X vehicles per week through year's end as Mr. Musk promised, this story will be a false alarm.

Eric thank you for commenting. Did you already pay for your Model X? You mention giving Tesla $150K in the comment is why I ask.

Thanks for the heads up. I just switched the image to the white one with the falcon doors extended that Tesla uses on its current public page. Tesla does not have the typical press kit type support. The server will not show the new image for a while.

Esteban, have you driven a Tesla yet? any other EV? There are fundamental differences vs traditional cars which you must experience to fully appreciate. Silence, instant response, handling, energy efficiency, regenerative braking and ridiculously low operating expenses.

Once you get hooked on to electric cars, nearly all combustion engine cars feel like remnants from the ICE age (pun intended) - wholly outdated. I am planning to be fully electric as soon as I can, also adding photovoltaic production at home. It's an ideological statement as well. I'm not surprised some wealthy people have multiple Teslas in their garages. There is no viable electric alternative yet.

I test-drove Model S three times. I like the car but it's too conventional for me. Spot on choice by Tesla to gain marketshare though. I since purchased a second-hand Tesla Roadster Sport and commute to work in this great little unusual sports car that will leave any nearly any Porsche, Ferrari, or even Lamborghini behind at a traffic light.

Tesla does not do model years. Continuous improvement is their strategy.

The latest assembly line at Fremont can build either Model S or Model X. Model S production is now well-known, assembly and parts supply are straightforward, and there is high demand. I suspect Tesla is running both lines pumping out Model S at full speed to meet or beat the target figures published for Q4 2015.

Building Model X in volume will necessarily ramp up slower, this would jeopardize the targets for this year. Yes, they made a few so far, full traction will be certainly be in Jan, or as soon as they are comfortable with the number of cars manufactured this quarter.

As for the service and dealer network, electric cars require far less maintenance than ICE as there are fewer moving parts to wear out. Over-the-air updates and assistance helps, some work can be done by rangers, some work (i.e. bodywork, tire and brake pad replacement) can be subcontracted, and there now are service centers run by Tesla within reasonable distance of each other.

I'm not worried about their ability to service Model 3.

I think you're right and the others as well. Changes made. Thanks for your comment and for reading.

Well said Eric, and you are right. Title and also a couple other uses of the phrase were changed and will update when the server refreshes. Thanks

Like all on-line publications, it is the readership. Comments always help too. Thanks for both.

I have no issue - we can agree to disagree. The truth remains that there have been 15 or so real deliveries, which have been production constrained, not sales constrained as the original title was implying.

While I am impatient to see Model X being produced in significant numbers, giving hope mine will be delivered soon, I also understand the interest to ramp up the car production in sync with the the Gigafactory coming online and churning out batteries in volume.

A Model X made today with Panasonic cells shipped from Japan brings in substantially less profit than the exact same car made in a few months time. Delivering a few is not a problem, full ramp-up is most likely a waste of money at this time, assuming the suppliers were able to produce cells in sufficient quantity in the first place. Panasonic would not be expanding their Japanese battery production knowing the cells will be made in Nevada starting next year. Doubling car production needs twice as many cells - where would they come from?

A Tesla is not like just any other car - it is revolutionary. I'm not surprised at the repeated delays and poor communication, frustrating as they may be.