Tesla Inc. almost reached its production target of making 5,000 Model 3 sedans in a week ending midnight Saturday. But the electric car manufacturer completed quality checks for its last car off the assembly line at 5 a.m. on Sunday, July 1.
Having missed the target twice before, Tesla must prove to investors that this narrow win is sustainable. CEO Elon Musk says the 5,000-a-week rate is necessary to attain profitability and eliminate the need to raise more funds.
Last year, Tesla came under fire following workers' complaints about the grueling pressure from aggressive production goals. Since 2014, ambulances have been called over 100 times for workers suffering from seizures, check pain, fainting spells, dizziness and other injuries.
Tesla ranked #3 overall in the Harris Poll's 2018 Reputation Quotient study. The company also ranked in the top 10 for its products and services, vision and leadership, social responsibility and even workplace environment. But Tesla was visibly absent from the top 10 reputable companies when it came to its emotional appeal and financial performance.