After four years of planning, Tesla Inc. finally broke ground on its planned $5 billion factory in the world’s biggest auto market, China. But the timing couldn’t be more inauspicious.

Tesla Inc. has yet to obtain approval from authorities in Europe to begin selling the Model 3 in the region, though this isn’t expected to impede the carmaker from starting deliveries next month, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Tesla Inc. plunged in early trading Jan. 2 after delivering fewer Model 3 sedans than analysts expected in the fourth quarter and cutting prices to partially make up for the federal tax credit that’s been halved in the U.S.

Tesla Inc.’s extraordinary efforts to deliver Model 3s before the end of the year could drive a substantially higher cash flow in the fourth quarter, Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said.

Elon Musk is sizing up General Motors' recently idled plants. The tech billionaire said in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” that it’s “possible that [Tesla] would be open” to taking over automakers’ old plants, including factories GM recently has slated for closure.

Elon Musk is doing everything he can to speed up deliveries of the Tesla Model 3, including the tantalizing prospect that he may have purchased a trucking company to augment capacity provided by existing vehicle haulers.

Elon Musk floated the idea of working with a familiar ally on electric work vans after being guilt-tripped on Twitter for using fuel-burning vehicles to service Tesla Inc. models.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he will walk the entire Model 3 production line Nov. 27-28. From battery cells to finished vehicles, all assembly areas need to be able to support making 1,000 cars per day, he said.

Elon Musk apparently is charting his way out of what he’s referred to as “delivery logistics hell” by making acquisitions and lining up contracts with trucking haulers.

A big pile of debt comes due at Tesla on March 1 — $920 million worth. But starting in two weeks, the company has a chance to make it disappear.