The countdown is on… It’s time to deliver Model S!

The excitement is really starting to build as we count down the days to our first Model S deliveries. We are ahead of schedule and can’t wait to put our first Reservation Holders behind the wheel! We’ve been looking forward to this day for over three years, and the buzz around the office and the factory is escalating every day.

FIRST DELIVERIES SCHEDULED!

The Tesla Factory will begin customer deliveries on June 22nd!!! We have a great day planned for our employees to celebrate this incredible event and will be webcasting the actual delivery ceremony on teslamotors.com. My heart is racing just thinking about it!

I find myself spending more and more time at the factory lately as we prepare to deliver our first cars. As I walk alongside the assembly line, past the paint booths and through the Plastics Center, I think there are lots of interesting activities going on that you might like to see. I am amazed at how fast our robots can position major sections of the car and how quickly our massive presses can transform huge rolls of aluminum into doors, hoods and battery enclosures.

Several weeks ago I challenged the teams at Deer Creek and Fremont to find a way to share some of these cool activities with our friends and family around the world. I’m happy to say they have met the challenge. Starting with this post, we officially begin a new series called “Inside Tesla.” Every Tuesday from now through the start of Model S deliveries we are going to post a blog with a new video and a collection of images highlighting a segment of the Model S manufacturing process. Be on the lookout, we might also have a few surprises to share along the way :).

EVENTS AND STORE OPENINGS

We will continue to hold Model S events in other areas during the countdown to June 22nd. A few weeks ago we held our “Signature - Four Color” event at Tesla Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California. It was the second time we had four Model S Beta cars, in all four Signature colors, on display at a Tesla Retail Store. It was great! Many thanks to the 9,000 visitors who stopped by to see us throughout the weekend. Given the energy and excitement surrounding these types of events, we thought it would be fun to create an Event Gallery on teslamotors.com to share some of our favorite photos and videos. Check it out and let us know what you think!

One of the most frequent comments I hear at events is “You always do everything on the West Coast. How about doing something on the East Coast?” So, East Coast here we come! This weekend we open our first “new design” store on the East Coast at The Westchester in White Plains, New York. We are bringing four Betas to the opening. This is the first time the “Signature - Four Color” event will be on the East Coast and the first time we’ve assembled four Model S Beta cars at a store opening. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at the opening.

We haven’t forgotten about our fans north of the border. Last week we launched a five-city Model S Beta tour through Canada. After first stopping in Ottawa and Laval, Quebec, the Signature Red Model S Beta will take up temporary residence in Etobicoke, Ontario this week before moving on to Calgary and Vancouver in June. We hope to see you along the way!

MODEL S UPDATES

I’d like to share a few Model S updates that again underscore how personalized YOUR Model S can be. Model S can be adjusted exactly the way YOU like it.

Regen(erative) braking

One of the engineering advantages that make an EV better than any gas-powered car is regenerative braking. When you take your foot off the Model S accelerator, energy is fed back into the battery, which causes the car to slow down (a similar feel to downshifting with a manual transmission). One of our Firmware engineers wrote a great blog about this technology shortly after the release of our Tesla Roadster. Over the past few years, we have learned that not everyone likes the same amount of Regen. Some owners like a little more resistance, some like a little less. Having less Regen means you will likely get less range, but some people still prefer the feel of their car with less Regen. We listened to your requests and I’m pleased to announce that Model S Regen will be adjustable. You can adjust Regen to suit your driving style.

Adjustable Steering

One of the many benefits of driving a Tesla is that almost everything can be adjusted. Even the steering on Model S is adjustable, which allows you to change the resistance required to turn the steering wheel. You’ll be able to choose between Comfort, Standard, and Sport steering.

Personalize your Suspension

As you can see, we’re developing a theme here – personalization. At Tesla, we are thinking differently about the way you connect with your car. Every Tesla customer is different, so we thought everyone should have the option to set his or her preference for suspension and ride height. With Active Air Suspension, a car set a little lower to the ground will reduce aero drag. You may choose to raise the suspension a few inches when faced with pesky speed bumps or very high when loading up the Frunk with groceries and supplies for a summer BBQ.

Range Testing

I’m thrilled to report that range & efficiency testing has been completed on our 85 kWh       Model S. We’ve exceeded expectations. Elon and JB just posted a blog explaining recent changes to EPA testing procedures and how they relate to Model S. It’s definitely worth checking out. I think it answers a lot of questions about EV range and efficiency.

These are very exciting times at Tesla and we’re looking forward to sharing them with each and every one of you as we countdown to June 22nd. We can’t wait to make every new owner smile as they jump behind the wheel of the most personalized and fun driving experience they’ve ever had. Be sure to check out “Inside Tesla” every Tuesday and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates and news. See you this weekend, East Coast.

Let the countdown begin!!!

GeorgeB

Tesla employees celebrate the first customer Model S body

This blog has been updated on May 24, 2012.