https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/affordable-base-tesla-model-3-still-months-away/

In a Twitter conversation, Musk explained that Model 3 production rates are the key to getting its most affordable variant out the door. Specifically, Model 3 production must be at 5,000 cars per week for between three and six months before Tesla can make the financials work. If Tesla were to ship its most affordable variant right away, it would "cause Tesla to lose money and die," per Musk's tweet:

According to Bloomberg's Tesla tracker, which estimates Model 3 production rates in a given week based on a variety of inputs like VIN submissions, Tesla's currently sitting at about 3,000 cars per week, with peak production pushing that number a bit above 3,500 cars per week. Tesla aims to produce 5,000 cars per week by the end of the second quarter of the year, and a forthcoming shutdown to tweak automated processes hopes to push it closer to that goal.