Just a week after Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, announced the temporary closure of production facilities throughout the third quarter for plant upgrades, the Fremont Factory has begun its first electric vehicle plant stoppage. During the Q2 Earnings Call, Musk mentioned that Q3 production would experience a slight decrease due to the company's focus on upgrading production facilities, possibly to accommodate new vehicle models.
One of the main objectives of these upgrades is to prepare production lines for the new Model 3 Highland and to create more space at the space-limited Fremont Factory. Over the past few months, various upgrades have been reported, including tool installs, line upgrades, and space improvements, as documented in filings with the City of Fremont.
The commencement of the upgrades at Fremont is evident, as confirmed by aerial footage captured by "Met God in the Wilderness" on YouTube, who regularly flies a drone over the production plant. Logistics lots are now nearly empty, entrances to those lots are closed, and haulers are nowhere to be seen, indicating a temporary halt in production.
Additionally, there is very little movement in casting and manufacturing portions of the factory:
While Tesla has not officially confirmed the specific reasons for the stoppage, rumors have been circulating about the new Model 3 Highland, supported by several on-road sightings in recent months. Some filings at Fremont even include the name "Highland," further suggesting that this redesigned sedan is the likely cause for the ongoing upgrades.
As of now, there have been no recent submissions or updates on Fremont's website, which is somewhat unusual. However, given the busy nature of the factory on normal days, the slowdown in production can be attributed to the planned upgrades, as Elon Musk had announced just last week. Despite the absence of an official press department, it seems evident that the Fremont Factory is in the process of gearing up for exciting changes and advancements in Tesla's production capabilities.
