While skeptics continue to doubt electric car manufacturer Tesla Corporation from staying true to its own announced release and production schedules for its Tesla Model X, it seems that the company’s latest groundwork and preparatory activities for the electric SUV indicate that it is well within its own timeline.
After being spotted fully-camouflaged during a number of its test runs starting a few months ago mostly in California, a number of uncovered Tesla Model X were already seen recently near the company’s Silicon Valley headquarters showing the SUV’s beautiful and curvy design, notes the Franchise Herald.
As Tesla is no longer worried of camouflaging the design of its fully-electric SUV to the public, it is now starting to become clear that the Tesla Model X is really on its way to the retail market very soon. As per Tesla, it will be launching the Tesla Model X in September and deliveries will begin on September 30.
Some critics believe that Tesla would find it hard to meet its production and delivery schedules for the Model X and think that the company shall only be able to deliver units starting in December 2015 or early January next year.
Those who were privileged to have seen the uncamouflaged Tesla Model X on the road were one in saying that the SUV looks pretty polished and they all think that what they are seeing is the final design of the vehicle.
Preparing the Tesla stores
As part of the groundwork preparations for the Model X, Tesla has also revamped its stores to prepare for the launch of its fully electric SUV.
One of the Tesla stores in upscale Santana Row shopping center in San Jose, California now features four main interactive displays including safety, autopilot attributes, Tesla’s Supercharger network, and the dual-motors that drive some Model S variants.
These features can be gleaned upon by customers who shall be assisted by well-trained Tesla staff capable of answering questions not only about Tesla Model X but generally about Tesla vehicles.
Tesla even took the extra mile for its expected high-end customers by introducing its own fashion line including a $300 tote bag, a $100 leather driving gloves, and a $40 iPhone sleeve that were made from scraps used for the Model S interiors.
Accordingly, the Tesla stores will undergo twice-yearly seasonal revamps to bring in new customers while keeping existing ones happy and satisfied.
Tesla is optimistic that all its preparations for the Model X will eventually bear dividends because it is pinning its hopes on the SUV to double its sales this year compared to last year. With 24,000 units on pre-order, it seems like the company may have already done the math before stating its projections for the year.
Ready to roll
Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the Model X will be unveiled in September and it shall come out with lots of cool gadgets as well as new autopilot features, notes Top Speed.
The Model X has been developed on the Model S platform and as an SUV, it is capable of seating up to seven passengers including the driver. The vehicle was initially scheduled for production by the end of 2013 but was deferred as Tesla wanted to focus on selling more than 20,000 units of its Model S released that year.
Production of the Model X was pushed back from late 2014 to early 2015. Since then, several prototypes of the Model X have been spotted undergoing testing in California.
The Model X will be the third fully-electric vehicle from Tesla following the Lotus Elise-based Roadster it launched in 2008 and the Model S it unveiled in 2012.
Early in August, reports came out that Tesla Motors is now on the final engineering and testing work for its Model X. However, rumors say that full production of the vehicle will be pushed back to December this year or January next year.
Apparently, production of the Tesla Model X has hit a roadblock as the electric carmaker is said to be having problems with some of its suppliers who shall provide necessary parts for the crossover vehicle.