I've seen the argument made in comments, but this is the first time I've ever seen an entire well-researched article making the Tesla apologist argument that Model 3 production is actually not delayed, but rather it's going according to the
original schedule, before Elon accelerated that.
From CleanTechnia: "
Is Tesla Model 3 Actually On Original Schedule?"
Definitely written from the unabashed apologist viewpoint. It's fair to say that I sometimes make Tesla apologist arguments, but I also take Tesla to task when I think they deserve it. This writer has a much stronger pro-Tesla bias than I do!
Yeah, anything written by Zachary of Cleantechnica, Fred of Electrek, or anyone at Evannex is going to have a Bias towards Tesla that is unnaturally optimistic.
I understand what Zach is
trying to say, but the article loses a lot of respectability with lines such as:
"When considering who is more accurate with timelines, then, perhaps it’s time to give Elon a little more props and a little less sass."
"And, again, if you look at our 2014 poll, even bullish Tesla fans largely didn’t expect Tesla to get the Model 3 into production in 2017. (Context, Sherlock, context.)"
"For sure, it was Tesla’s mistake that in the past year it has been estimating a quicker ramp up than reality delivered. For sure, it’s a bit upsetting and it puts into question Tesla’s current projections. But if you step back and put everything into perspective, dang, Elon nailed it."
Especially that last one. He 'nailed' it? By making a rough estimation of 2017 4 years ago? You would think that the closer we got to production, the more accurate the prediction would have been haha.
I do not mind that they are optimists.

But I think it kind of hurts their readers. A lot of people set plans in motion, extended car leases, set money aside, because they were assured by members of the media they trust that everything was on track.
I remember a poll result from Electrek that asked
How many Model 3 Tesla will produce in 2017?
https://electrek.co/2017/02/27/tesla-model-3-perfect-execution-production-2017/
58% of 10,004 readers thought that Tesla would produce at
least 50k units...
in 2017! That's kind of funny to look back on now, since I thought I was pessimistic at the time of thinking in the mid-teens to low 20,000 units.
If their readers were accurately informed, they could have gone out to get a volt, or a leaf, or i3 or used Model S. They could have gotten rid of their ICE and started driving EV already while waiting for their Model 3.
But considering these authors generally negative attitude towards PHEVs and BEV competitors like the Bolt, they clearly don't want people to drive
EVs... just to drive
Teslas.

And they rarely extend the same optimistic courtesy to BMW, Nissan or GM that they do to Tesla.