The first batch of Tesla Model 3 comprising of 30 units has been delivered to their owners at a handover event in Fremont, California. We now have all the details about the available kit options, Model 3 performance, variants, and measurements. Tesla CEO Elon Musk focused on production challenges that the company is facing, however, he is planning to boost the production rate to 500,000 vehicles produced per year by the end of 2018.
Tesla will deliver another 100 units of Model 3 in the next month, scaling it to 1,500 in September, and up to 20,000 units per month by the end of this year. Over 400,000 people already registered for Model 3 by depositing a token amount of $1000. The registration program started last year in the month of March in select countries. More countries were also added including India, later.
There are two variants of Tesla Model 3, short-range battery variant and long-range battery variant. The base model is priced at $35,000 while the long-range battery variant bears a price tag of $44,000 excluding the taxes. Tesla confirmed that it will be shipping long-range battery version prior to the base model exclusively to its customers who registered first over the next three months.
The base model of Model 3 achieves 220 miles (354km) of range on a fully charged battery. It can go up to 130 miles when charged for 30 minutes with Supercharger while it has a mileage of 30 miles per hour with home 240V, 32A charger. It goes 0 to 60mph in 5.6 seconds.
The higher variant which has been priced at $9000 more than the base model achieves 310 miles of range when the battery is fully charged, 170 miles when charged with Supercharger for 30 minutes, and it can go up to 37 miles when it is fueled up with home 240V, 32A charger for 1 hour. It goes 0 to 60mph in 5.1 seconds.
Model 3 is designed to attain the highest safety ratings in every category. Both variants of Tesla Model 3 comes with a 15-inch touchscreen which gives you access to media and climate controls, maps & navigation, voice controls, and a lot more. Your smartphone, using Tesla app, acts as a remote or more like a key to controlling the Model 3. You can unlock the EV and start or turn it off using your smartphone. Utilizing Bluetooth technology, the Model 3 talks to your device to know you are there. As an alternate, the Tesla Model 3 also ships with a pair of NFC-enabled cards made of plastic which lets you unlock and start the car with a tap.
Tesla Model 3 has two front-located USB ports and features autopilot hardware and active safety features, panoramic glass roof, supercharging capability, front and rear trunks, LED tail lamps, sporty alloys, 60/40 split folding rear seats and much more. You can upgrade to its Premium Upgrade Package for $5,000 which include two rear USB ports, premium audio system and subwoofer with surround speakers, premium cabin materials & heated seating, tinted glass roof, docking ports for up to two smartphones, LED fog light, and power adjustable front seats, steering column, and heated side mirrors.
Model 3 is autopilot-enabled and to experience it you’ll have to pay $5,000 more to include all the sensors necessary for the enhanced autopilot. The set of sensors includes speed matching to traffic conditions, lane keeping, automatic lane change, transition from freeway to another, and self-park. The whole package includes seven cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors, and forward radar. For full self-driving capability, you will need to pay $3,000 more, when it becomes available.
Tesla Model 3 comes in black color option by default. By paying extra $1,000, you can choose between five color options which include deep blue, metallic silver, red, pearl white, midnight silver. You can also upgrade your vehicle’s standard 18-inch wheels to 19-inch sports wheel for $1,500.
Like Model S, Model 3 will also come in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions, however, all wheel-drive variants production will begin in the spring next year. International deliveries of left-hand drive vehicles begin in the second half of 2018. Right-hand drive vehicles production begins in 2019.
If you want to own a Tesla Model 3, now is the time to register because the queue is not gonna get any shorter. You can expect your Model 3 delivery by the end of 2018 or early 2019 if you register now. Here’s what Elon Musk stated during the pre-event press briefing- “The major challenge we faced with the Model 3 is not really the product. We’re going to go through six months of production hell. It’s going to be pretty great but it’s going to be quite a challenge to produce this car.”
