Tesla has finally launched their long awaited Model 3 electric sedan. The company had a ceremony at their factory near San Francisco where CEO Elon Musk delivered the first cars to 30 selected employees. So now we have a better look at pricing, timing, and options for the compact electric sedan.
Production of the Model 3 has started, and the first customer deliveries are scheduled for late October. Those early cars will not be the anticipated US $35,000 cars. Production will start with the bigger battery - which Tesla is referring to as Long Range, not with a kWh number - rear drive, and premium upgrades. The cars will start at US $49,000 and will have just three options: wheel size, paint colour, and autopilot features. The first customer cars will go to the first to reserve, but current Tesla owners get closer to the top of the list as well.
Tesla says acceleration from 0-100 km/h will take from 5.1 to 5.6 seconds depending on the drivetrain chosen. Electric range is given as 340 km to 500 km.
More configurations, including the US $35,000 model are expected to become available once production ramps up. Tesla expects the base model to arrive this November. The dual motor all-wheel drive option is scheduled to become available for order next spring.
Deliveries for Canada will likely start even later than the US. On the Canadian Tesla site, the company says that "international Model 3 deliveries will begin in late 2018, contingent upon regulatory approvals." Pricing for Canada is quoted in US dollars, but will likely switch to Canadian closer to the car's arrival here
The Model 3 will seat five passengers. It has a 15.0-inch touchscreen handling the navigation, infotainment, climate control, and dashboard duties. It has keyless entry and climate control from Tesla's app.
The Premium upgrades include heated seats with upgraded materials, 12-way power adjustable front seats and adjustable steering column. It adds a glass sunroof, LED fog lights, and a premium audio system with more power and more speakers.
The Model 3 will have a four-year, 81,000 km warranty. The short-range battery will have eight years, 160,000 km and the long-range adds 32,000 km to that.
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