--- title: "The Virus Outbreak Is Delaying Tesla Model 3 Shipments" description: "Tesla shares fell on Wednesday after an executive revealed that Model 3 production will be delayed for about a week and a half due to the outbreak." date: "2020-02-06" modified: "2020-02-06" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/virus-outbreak-delaying-tesla-model-3-shipments" categories: - "Advanced Transport" - "Tesla" tags: - "coronavirus" - "Model 3" - "tesla" - "the digest" --- # The Virus Outbreak Is Delaying Tesla Model 3 Shipments ![Tesla shares fell on Wednesday after an executive revealed that Model 3 production will be delayed for about a week and a half due to the outbreak.]() *\Image: Steve Jurvetson\* ## Production Delays Tesla shares fell more than 17 percent Wednesday after an executive revealed that Model 3 production for early February will be delayed in China for about a week and a half due to the coronavirus outbreak, [*CNBC* reports](). The news comes after Tesla [rolled out]() its first Model 3 cars at its brand new [Shanghai Gigafactory]() in January. Shortly afterward, Tesla shares rocketed and made the Elon Musk-led company the [most valuable auto company]() in US history last month. ## Market Cap As of Wednesday, Tesla's market cap still stands at $132.4 billion, according to *CNBC* — still well above January levels. But the automaker's Shanghai factory had to remain closed following the Chinese Lunar New Year, abiding by guidelines from the Chinese government. ## Feeling the Squeeze Tesla isn't the only US company affected by the virus. Disney, Walmart, and [US airlines](), among many others, have felt the squeeze as operations had to be suspended, [according to *CNBC*](). But Tesla execs remain optimistic. "This may slightly impact profitability for the quarter but is limited as the profit contribution from Model 3 Shanghai remains in the early stages," Tesla chief financial officer Zach Kirkhorn said during an investor call last week, as quoted by *CNBC.* **READ MORE:** [Tesla shares crater 17% after coronavirus delays Model 3 deliveries]() \[*CNBC*\] **More on the virus:** *[Airlines Are Suspending Flights to China Amid Outbreak]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()