He also said that it would be good to keep the Model 3 powder dry on the announcement, which could be a hint that the next prototype could be unveiled by the company in the spring of this year. Some also say that it is actually an idiom for keeping ready for an action at a moment’s notice.
Musk also discussed progress made at the battery plant and officially confirmed that Tesla plans to bring more than battery pack manufacturing to the plant.
Following the event at the Gigafactory, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas noted an equal-weight rating on Tesla’s stock with a price target of $242.00.
He explained that the Model 3 milestones should dominate 2017. He said that they expect a later launch than consensus, but they also expect a better car.
Elon Musk also said that he and the company feel pretty good about the pace of progress at the Gigafactory which manufactures the Model 3 battery pack, electric motor, drivetrain, and power electronics.
He also highlighted the riskiest components as some of the long lead items such as stamping dies for the body panels and the seats.
Critics believe that Tesla would continue to push for function improvements in autonomy, further unveiling of additional body styles and new business models for transportation both within and between cities in an expansion of their mobility network infrastructure.