Tesla delays semi truck unveiling to focus on Model 3 production

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced that the unveiling of the electric semi truck will now be held on November 16 and not October 26 as previously teased. Apparently the production issues with its new car, the Model 3 are the main reasons behind the delay.

"Tesla Semi unveil now Nov 16," Musk tweeted, pushing it back around three weeks from the original October 26 event. "Diverting resources to fix Model 3 bottlenecks & increase battery production for Puerto Rico & other affected areas."

Tesla Semi unveil now Nov 16. Diverting resources to fix Model 3 bottlenecks & increase battery production for Puerto Rico & other affected areas.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 6, 2017

Earlier, Tesla reported that it produced mere 260 new Model 3 cars in the third quarter, missing Musk's prediction of producing 1,600 cars by a huge margin. Additionally, Puerto Rico's governor, Ricardo Rosello, also tweeted Musk asking him to help rebuild the hurricane lashed island using Tesla's solar technology. Musk responded, "I would be happy to talk. Hopefully, Tesla can be helpful."

@elonMusk Let's talk. Do you want to show the world the power and scalability of your #TeslaTechnologies? PR could be that flagship project. https://t.co/McnHKwisqc

— Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) October 6, 2017

Although Musk has many projects underway, his obsession for the moment remains the launch of Tesla's Model 3 sedan, an entry-level product (base priced at $33,000, or a third of a loaded Model S or X) that generated an avalanche of deposits.