AI illustration: Model S deliveries start no later than July 2012
TeslaCars & Energy
Delivered · Late

First Model S delivery: promised by July 2012, delivered

Was the first Model S delivered by July 2012?

On April 10, 2009, Elon Musk first promised the first Model S deliveries for Apr 2011, then moved the date 1 time. It happened, but 1.1 years late. Verdict as of October 26, 2026: delivered late.

goalposts: Apr 2011 → Jul 2012 · moved 1×
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“We're going to be starting deliveries no later than July of this year.”
— Elon Musk · Feb 9, 2012 · Tesla (official channel) — 'Tesla Model X Reveal', Feb 9 2012 (Model S delivery promise made on stage during the same event) 10:35 ↗
Video: Tesla (official channel) — 'Tesla Model X Reveal', Feb 9 2012 (Model S delivery promise made on stage during the same event)
▶ WATCH HIM SAY IT @ 10:35 — TESLA (OFFICIAL CHANNEL) — 'TESLA MODEL X REVEAL', FEB 9 2012 (MODEL S DELIVERY PROMISE MADE ON STAGE DURING THE SAME EVENT)
What actually happened

Delivered, and slightly early. Tesla handed the first customer Model S sedans to buyers — including earliest depositor Steve Jurvetson — at a Fremont factory event on June 22, 2012, beating the 'no later than July' commitment by more than a month. One of the few clean timeline wins of the early Tesla era. Green Car Reports — First 2012 Tesla Model S delivered to earliest depositor Steve Jurvetson ↗

The Progression

2 STATEMENTS · ONE CLAIM

Elon Musk first made this promise on Apr 10, 2009, with a deadline of Apr 30, 2011. He has said it 2 times on the record. 1 of those statements pushed the date later. It happened on Jun 22, 2012, 1.1 years late against the first deadline.

Apr 10, 2009
First promise · due Apr 30, 2011
“Well, the car will be available in two years, which is. That's when we'll be finished with all the crash testing and all the regulatory stuff and have built out the factory.” · Kevin Pollak's Chat Show (April 10, 2009), video, ~00:18:49 00:18:49 ↗
Missed · 5,658 days past due
Feb 9, 2012
Goalpost moved · due Jul 31, 2012
“We're going to be starting deliveries no later than July of this year.” · Tesla (official channel) — 'Tesla Model X Reveal', Feb 9 2012 (Model S delivery promise made on stage during the same event) 10:35 ↗
Delivered · on time
Jun 22, 2012
Delivered · Late — 1.1 years late. Delivered, and slightly early. Tesla handed the first customer Model S sedans to buyers — including earliest depositor Steve Jurvetson — at a Fremont factory event on June 22, 2012, beating the 'no later than July' commitment by more than a month. One of the few clean timeline wins of the early Tesla era. Green Car Reports — First 2012 Tesla Model S delivered to earliest depositor Steve Jurvetson ↗
Today · Oct 26, 2026
Verdict on the claim: Delivered · Late · 1.1 years late. 2 statements, goalpost moved 1×.

On the Model X reveal stage in February 2012, Musk promised Model S deliveries would begin no later than July 2012. Tesla delivered the first customer cars on June 22, 2012 at the Fremont factory. A genuine early win — the same event also produced the Model X timeline that slipped by almost two years.

Every statement, dated

3 STATEMENTS · AS OF OCTOBER 26, 2026
Every statement on this page, oldest first. Outcome is how each statement was graded on its own.
Date saidWhat he saidDeadline givenSourceOutcome
“Well, the car will be available in two years, which is. That's when we'll be finished with all the crash testing and all the regulatory stuff and…”Apr 30, 2011Kevin Pollak's Chat Show (April…Missed · 5,658 days past due
“We're going to be starting deliveries no later than July of this year.”Jul 31, 2012Tesla (official channel)…Delivered · on time
“We expect to start delivering in Europe early next year, and we have not yet announced final pricing for Europe.”Mar 31, 2013Tesla Q1 2012 earnings call…Delivered · Late · 0.4 years late

Every date for the first Model S deliveries

1 MORE CLAIMS ON THIS PAGE
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Receipts

LAST CHECKED 2026-06-12

Questions and answers

What exactly did Elon Musk say, and when?

On April 10, 2009, Elon Musk said: “Well, the car will be available in two years, which is. That's when we'll be finished with all the crash testing and all the regulatory stuff and have built out the factory.” (source). That set the date at Apr 2011.

How many times did the date move?

Elon Musk has moved the date 1 time. He first set it for Apr 2011; the last date he gave was Jul 2012.

Did it happen?

Yes, but late. This prediction came true on June 22, 2012, 1.1 years late against his first deadline of Apr 2011. Delivered, and slightly early. Tesla handed the first customer Model S sedans to buyers — including earliest depositor Steve Jurvetson — at a Fremont factory event on June 22, 2012, beating the 'no later than July' commitment by more than a month. One of the… (Green Car Reports — First 2012 Tesla Model S delivered to earliest depositor Steve Jurvetson)

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Tesla’s record

Delivered
85
62% of resolved claims delivered.
Missed
52
Deadline passed, still no-show.
Still open
36
On the clock now. All 173 Tesla claims →

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