We have seen more and more pictures of Tesla Model 3 release candidates lately, but as production is getting closer, we are hoping to soon see some production units.

While Tesla is not quite there yet, they released a glimpse of the Model 3 body-in-white today.

A picture of the Model 3 chassis leaked earlier this year, but this new look is the first official image of the vehicle’s structure.

Last month, we reported on Tesla updating its body shop program to simplify and reduce the cost ahead of Model 3.

They are bringing online some of their courses for technicians. The ones for the Model S and Model X are already available. Tesla is even offering a 30% discount on parts for the shops who have two or more technicians completing the courses by July 1st.

In a brochure for the new program – embedded below, Tesla announced the upcoming program for the Model 3 and showed the first picture of the vehicle’s body-in-white:

The way the back is open shows that Tesla really opened up the trunk’s opening – something that previously worried some reservations holders.

The production line for the Model 3 is not quite ready yet, but Tesla confirmed progress on the body line.

Earlier this month, Tesla gave an update on the Model 3 production plan and they said that they completed the expansion of their paint shop for the Model 3:

“Paint shop preparation has been completed and installations of our dedicated Model 3 body welding and general assembly lines are progressing well.”

They also confirmed that they received and installed their Schuler press for the Model 3 production line and they think that they will have “sufficient time to install and tune die sets ahead of volume production.”

In the brochure of the body repair program, they say that they will have the courses for the Model 3 by July, when they plan to start production:

Model 3 Mechanical, Electrical and Trim

Model 3 Structural Repair*

Steel Structural Welding*

Tesla President Jon McNeill announced last month that Tesla will ‘add 300 body shops to its network in the next few weeks’ and earlier this month, Tesla announced that they also plan company-owned body shops.

Here’s the brochure:

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