VIDEO: With The Model X On Track, 2015 Could Be Big For Tesla
Tesla today told customers who placed deposits on its forthcoming Model X SUV that the vehicle will indeed be produced “starting in early 2015″ as expected. That’s good news for buyers, many of whom put down $5,000 or $40,000 with the company more than 2 years ago. But it’s also important for the company, which could use the more versatile vehicle to reach new market segments and see a significant uptick in sales as a result. Model X was originally slated to begin production late in 2013, with deliveries in full swing by now. But Tesla has found ramping up the Model S sedan, while simultaneously expanding into Europe and Asia, to have its own set of challenges. The result of a full plate and the fact that CEO Elon Musk is a self-proclaimed “perfectionist” with respect to the details led to delays. Still, Musk has promised a vehicle that is both functional and attractive, with a base price that’s just a bit above the Model S sedan.