If timed right, they have 6 months to sell cars after the 200k cutoff. Some people say they have been storing some cars and not selling them along with selling more overseas so that all the cars produced (and sold, but with the reservation backlog, this is the same thing for now) for the next six months can get the tax credit. It has to do with production because you can't have sales of cars that don't exist.
> It has to do with production because you can’t have sales of cars that don’t exist
Rather, you don’t want to rush to produce vehicles you don’t want to deliver quite yet. You want to get to maximum output at the same time the timer starts on federal tax credits phasing out (which, keep in mind, would’ve happened without Model 3 production due to 2k/week Model S and X production).
