Tesla is selling bonds to bolster its balance sheet and support spending on the Model 3 sedan.<\/p>\n
The company plans to offer $1.5 billion in senior unsecured notes due in 2025, according to a statement.<\/p>\n
Tesla said it intends to use the proceeds to produce its most affordable model and for general corporate purposes.<\/p>\n
It would be the company\u2019s first sale of non-convertible bonds, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.<\/p>\n
Tesla burned through a record $1.16 billion in cash in the second quarter, driven by spending on capacity for the Model 3 and boosting battery output.<\/p>\n
The Model 3 starts at $35,000, roughly half the cost of the base Model S sedan, and has racked up almost half a million net reservations since the company began taking refundable deposits last year.<\/p>\n
The Model 3 is the linchpin of chief executive officer Elon Musk\u2019s plans to turn Tesla into more of a mass-market manufacturer.<\/p>\n
The carmaker plans to make 500,000 vehicles in 2018 and a million in 2020. The company produced almost 84,000 cars and sport utility vehicles last year.<\/p>\n
Musk said on a quarterly earnings conference call last week that the company was considering raising debt, but not equity. The company\u2019s shares have surged 67% this year through Friday\u2019s close.<\/p>\n