TSLA Tesla Inc

The wait for Tesla Motors Inc.'s upcoming Model 3 sedan just got longer for some buyers. New reservations for the vehicle won't be filled until mid-2018 or later, according to the company's website.

Prospective customers who already had reserved a Model 3 could expect delivery in late 2017, as Tesla previously had promised, a company spokeswoman said Tuesday. Tesla has said that 373,000 Model 3s were reserved.

Tesla this week posted the later delivery schedule for new reservations on its website, which suggests continuing strong interest in the Model 3. Last week, the company's website said that delivery of the $35,000 sedan would begin in late 2017, according to a tesla.com, a nonprofit that archives webpages.

"Today's website update doesn't reflect any change in our plans," Tesla said in a statement. "We still plan to begin Model 3 deliveries in late 2017, and we adjusted the date on our marketing page to reflect more accurate timing for new/future reservation holders."

Early demand for the car led Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk in May to move up his goal of manufacturing 500,000 vehicles a year to 2018 from 2020.

Tesla's factory in Fremont, Calif., made about 50,000 vehicles last year. The company is working on plans to double the facility's space, allowing for increased production.

Write to Tim Higgins at tim.higgins@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 18, 2016 14:55 ET (18:55 GMT)

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