The Tesla Model 3 Thread

Pilot Production for Tesla Model 3 Starts Soon

Reports suggest that the Tesla will start pilot production of its entry-level Model 3 in February 2017, some five months ahead of its intended production date in July 2017.

Tesla’s Fremont facility in California is where the Model 3 will come to life as the automaker prepares for full-scale production due to start in July 2017. According to reports, Tesla will start building a small number of Model 3’s to test its recently upgraded facility.

Last year, it was reported that Tesla added South Africa, and other countries, to its Model 3 order book with local arrival expected at the end of 2017. Even so, we have our doubts and at best we have reason to believe that the Model 3 will only arrive in South Africa in 2018 or even 2019.

Tesla’s distribution model for South Africa is yet to be confirmed and considering the vast area that South Africa covers, charging stations for the Model 3 is something that will have to be addressed by the automaker. The Model 3 will likely be powered by a 60 kWh battery with a range of 350 km on a single charge. The battery can also be supercharged in about 30 minutes.

http://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/pilot-production-for-tesla-model-3-starts-soon/43041/
 
Tesla Model 3 production on schedule to begin this July

First deliveries of the mass-market electric car are expected in early 2018, but its manufacturer is seeking some extra investment

Production of the Tesla Model 3 will start in July, the company has confirmed, but it is looking for a cash injection to help bring it to the market.

It had been thought that production of the mass-market electric car could be delayed until 2018, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed to investors in a conference call that it would produce more than 5000 Model 3s per week by the end of this year and 10,000 units per week by some point next year.

However, he is seeking to raise capital in order to reduce risk for investors.

"According to our financial plan, no capital needs to be raised for the Model 3, but we get very close to the edge," he said.

"We're considering a number of options but I think it probably makes sense to raise capital to reduce risk."

Musk indicated the electric saloon, which has an entry-level price of $35,000 (about £28,000), may not be unveiled until this July, when limited production will begin. Full-scale production is slated to start in September.

Tesla said it aimed to deliver a combined total of 47,000 to 50,000 Model S and Model Xs in the first half of this year, but did not give a figure for Model 3 target sales.

It did, however, reaffirm its pledge to deliver 500,000 vehicles in 2018 and one million in 2020, when its £3.8 billion gigafactory is expected to reach full capacity – a sharp rise from the 80,000 delivered in 2016.

Tesla also hasn't provided an update on the number of reservations taken for the Model 3, which is believed have sold out for the first year; advance reservations totaled 373,000.

While the American manufacturer has enough capital to meet the demands for the Model 3, Musk suggested it would still look for more investment, which would provide more cash for the planned Model Y compact SUV. Tesla is also plotting to broaden its electric range with a cargo van, a minibus and a pick-up truck in the future.

Meanwhile, Tesla's chief financial officer, Jason Wheeler, will leave the company in April to take a job in the public sector after a year with Tesla. His predecessor, Deepak Ahuja, will return to the role. Ahuja joined Tesla in 2010 after 15 years with Ford.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/tesla-model-3-production-schedule-begin-july
 
Tesla Model 3: £800 million capital raised ahead of production

Money will reduce financial risk of Model 3 production; first deliveries of the mass-market electric car are expected in early 2018

Tesla has secured a $1 billion (around £800 million) cash injection ahead of production of the Tesla Model 3 which will start in July.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk had previously said that while his company had enough capital to meet the demands for the Model 3, it would take it "very close to the edge".

The manufacturer has raised capital to help production and ease the financial risk associated with the production run, leading to a rise in its share price which was also helped by Autocar's reports of its future model plans, including the Model Y compact SUV, according to New York financiers.

It had been thought that production of the mass-market electric car could be delayed until 2018, but Musk confirmed to investors that it would produce more than 5000 Model 3s per week by the end of this year and 10,000 units per week by some point next year.

Musk indicated the electric saloon, which has an entry-level price of $35,000 (about £28,000), may not be unveiled until this July, when limited production will begin. Full-scale production is slated to start in September.

Tesla said it aimed to deliver a combined total of 47,000 to 50,000 Model S and Model Xs in the first half of this year, but did not give a figure for Model 3 target sales.

It did, however, reaffirm its pledge to deliver 500,000 vehicles in 2018 and one million in 2020, when its £3.8 billion gigafactory is expected to reach full capacity – a sharp rise from the 80,000 delivered in 2016.

Tesla also hasn't provided an update on the number of reservations taken for the Model 3, which is believed have sold out for the first year; advance reservations totaled 373,000.

Meanwhile, Tesla's chief financial officer, Jason Wheeler, will leave the company in April to take a job in the public sector after a year with Tesla. His predecessor, Deepak Ahuja, will return to the role. Ahuja joined Tesla in 2010 after 15 years with Ford.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/n...-£800-million-capital-raised-ahead-production
 
Tesla: "Model 3 is not the next-generation Tesla"

America’s second most valuable car maker reveals more insight into the Model 3, but insists the Model S is brand’s flagship for progress

The Tesla Model 3, despite being the brand’s newest model by more than a year, will not be the most advanced car in the Tesla range, its maker has announced.

Following the huge hype built up around the car, Tesla clarified the Model 3’s position in relation to the rest of the lineup as a tier below the Model S and X – which it describes as “higher-priced premium models”, when responding to customers who asked if they should trade their Model S for a Model 3 upon the car’s release.

The statement also realigned the upcoming electric BMW 3 Series rival’s range to ‘at least’ 215 miles for the entry-level Model 3; 33 miles less than the entry-level Tesla Model S 60, which achieves 248 miles of range in rear-wheel drive set-up. This model is also soon to be cut from the Model S line-up.

Despite positioning the Model 3 as a non-premium model, Tesla claims it will be just as safe as the Model S, but will be ‘smaller simpler, and will come with far fewer options than Model S’. The statement also attempted to quell some of the hype around the much-anticipated Model 3, explaining: "it isn’t 'Version 3' or the next generation Tesla."

In preparation for the Model 3’s sales debut, Tesla says it has ramped up its much-reported Gigafactory manufacturing plant, charging network and sales network, as it gears up to fulfil the 373,000 Model 3 orders it has received.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/tesla-model-3-not-next-generation-tesla
 
First Tesla Model 3 deliveries to start this month

Money will reduce financial risk of Model 3 production; first deliveries of the mass-market electric car are expected in early 2018

The first customer Tesla Model 3s will be handed over on the 28 July, around six months before initial predictions, CEO Elon Musk has confirmed.

In series of Tweets, Musk said production of the all-electric four-door will then be ramped up exponentially, with 100 cars produced in August, more than 1500 produced in September and then 20,000 produced per month from December.

The car has an entry-level price of $35,000 (about £28,000) and has been ordered by around 500,000 customers, which is also the maximum output possible at Tesla's new battery-producing Gigafactory in Nevada.

Production starts as Tesla injects $1 billion (around £800 million) of investment into the company, something Musk has previously said would help the brand meet the high demand requirements of its newest model.

The manufacturer has raised capital to help production and ease the financial risk associated with the production run, which lead to a rise in its share price that was also helped by reports of its future model plans, including the Model Y compact SUV, according to New York financiers.

Tesla has also said it aimed to deliver a combined total of 47,000 to 50,000 Model S and Model Xs in the first half of this year, but did not give a figure for Model 3 target sales.

It has, however, reaffirmed its pledge to deliver 500,000 vehicles in 2018 and one million in 2020, when its £3.8 billion Gigafactory is expected to reach full capacity – a sharp rise from the 80,000 delivered in 2016.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/first-tesla-model-3-deliveries-start-month
 
Tesla's car for the 'masses' to hit US streets

US electric carmaker Tesla says its much-ballyhooed Model 3 "car for the masses" will go on sale Stateside this coming Friday.

CEO Elon Musk made the announcement on Monday on Twitter.

The car is to start around $35 000 (R461 650) and with a $7500 (R98 925) federal electric car tax credit, could cost just $27 500 (R362 725). Tesla says the five-seat car will be able to go 133 kilometers on a single charge and will be sporty, accelerating from zero to 60 miles per hour (96km/h) in under six seconds.

Musk had said that production was on track to start in July, but Tesla has often faced delays in getting vehicles to market. The Palo Alto, California-based company aims to make 5000 Model 3 sedans per week by the end of this year and 10 000 per week in 2018.

Tesla hasn't said how many people have put down $1000 (R13 190) refundable deposits for the Model 3, but Musk has said people who put down a deposit now won't get a car until the end of 2018, suggesting it could be close to 500 000.

South Africa was also included in the initial order book, after Tesla expressed interest in entering our market, however it's unlikely that the cars will hit our shores any time soon.

Whether Tesla can meet its production goals is an open question. Its last new vehicle, the Model X SUV, was delayed nearly 18 months. Musk says the Model 3 is much simpler to make, but 14-year-old Tesla has no experience producing and selling vehicles in high volumes. Tesla made just 84 000 cars last year. Bigger rivals like General Motors, Volkswagen and Toyota routinely sell around 10 million vehicles per year.

Even if the Model 3 is on time, servicing all those vehicles will still be a challenge. Model S and Model X owners are already worried about having to share Tesla's company-owned charging stations with an influx of new cars. And while Tesla is promising to increase its network of stores and service centers by 30 percent this year, it began 2017 with just 250 service centers worldwide. That leaves many potential owners miles from a service center.

Musk has said a new fleet of mobile service trucks will be deployed to help customers who are far from service centers. Tesla also plans to double its global high-speed charging points to 10 000 by the end of this year and increase them by another 50 to 100 percent in 2018.

Until recently, Tesla owned the market for fully-electric vehicles that can go 320 kilometers or more on a charge. But that's changing.

GM beat Tesla to the mass market with the Chevrolet Bolt, a $36 000 (R474 840) car that goes about 200 kilometers per charge. Audi plans to introduce an electric SUV with 486 kilometers of range next year; Ford will have one by 2020. Volkswagen plans more than 30 electric vehicle models by 2025.

Automotive competitors like Mercedes and Volvo - not to mention tech companies like Google and Uber - can also match Tesla's efforts to develop self-driving vehicles. And they have deeper pockets. Tesla has had only two profitable quarters in its seven years as a public company.

http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news/teslas-car-for-the-masses-to-hit-us-streets-10111549
 
Analyst says Tesla Model 3 launch could be as big as 2007 iPhone introduction

Gene Munster, a longtime Apple analyst who had been calling for an HD TV set from Apple for years before eventually giving up on that pipe dream, said today that the upcoming release of Tesla’s Model 3 sedan would be as big a launch as the 2007 introduction of the original iPhone.

In a blog post on the Loup Ventures website, Munster writes that the combination of the Model 3’s value and technology has the potential to change the world and accelerate the adoption of electric and autonomous vehicles in the next decade.

“We believe we will eventually look back at the launch of the Model 3 and compare it to the iPhone, which proved to be the catalyst for the shift to mobile computing,” he wrote.

The launch of the vehicle is viewed as Tesla’s make or break moment because Model 3 is the company’s first truly mass-market electric car priced at the sweet spot of $35,000 before federal and state tax incentives.

According to Elon Musk, Tesla is poised to ship about thirty units of the Model 3 sedans on July 28 and ramp up production to 20,000 Model 3 units per month by December of this year.

Imagining that Tesla could produce an estimated 2.5 million cars by 2025 may seem hard to believe given it only delivered about 100,000 cars in the past year. But as Munster says, car hardware does not scale as easy as software, but it can scale.

“Looking back at the iPhone in 2007 it was a stretch to envision the company producing 50 million phones a year, but in 2015, the company sold 232 million units,” he wrote. Owning a Model 3 is only thirteen percent more expensive than owning a Toyota Camry over a five-year period, estimated the analyst.

It’s important to note that this figure assumes no state or federal tax credits for electric vehicles as the analyst expect those incentives to end before December 2020.

Loup Ventures is a VC fund focused on augmented reality, artificial intelligence and robotics which Munster founded following his exit from investment firm Piper Jaffray in December of last year, putting an end to Munster’s 21-year career as Piper’s senior Apple analyst.

http://www.idownloadblog.com/2017/07/06/gene-munster-tesla-model-3-launch-iphone/
 
Tesla Model 3 production starts today

Production of all-electric saloon will reach 20,000 units per month from December

The first customer Tesla Model 3s will be built today in time for a handover event over on the 28 July.

Production for the all-electric four-door will then be ramped up exponentially, with 100 cars produced in August, more than 1500 produced in September and then 20,000 produced per month from December.

The Model 3 has an entry-level price of $35,000 (about £28,000) and has been ordered by around 500,000 customers, which is the maximum output possible at Tesla's new battery-producing Gigafactory in Nevada.

Production starts as Tesla injects $1 billion (around £800 million) of investment into the company, something CEO Elon Musk has previously said would help the company meet the high demand requirements of its newest model.

The manufacturer has raised capital to help production and ease the financial risk associated with the production run, which led to a rise in its share price that was also helped by reports of its future model plans, including the Model Y compact SUV, according to New York financiers.

Tesla has also said it aimed to deliver a combined total of 47,000 to 50,000 Model S and Model Xs in the first half of this year, but did not give a figure for Model 3 target sales.

It has, however, reaffirmed its pledge to deliver 500,000 vehicles in 2018 and one million in 2020, when the Gigafactory is expected to reach full capacity - a sharp rise from the 80,000 delivered in 2016.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/tesla-model-3-production-starts-today
 
The First Production Tesla Model 3 Was A Birthday Gift To Elon Musk

You’ll excuse me for assuming that billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk would just inherently be getting the very first production Model 3, well, because he’s the CEO, but that wasn’t the case. Somebody else reserved it and decided to gift it to him.

Perhaps it’s a poor reflection of my own logic, but if I spend over a year hyping up what’s supposed to be the biggest revolution in cars since Ford made a production line, I would naturally want the first trophy of success.

But in the case of the very first Tesla Model 3, serial number “1", revealed to the world on Twitter last night by Musk, it was actually a birthday present to him from Tesla board member Ira Ehrenpreis.

Evidently, Ehrenpreis was actually the very first person to put the full deposit down on a Model 3, making him the first person owed a car by the way Tesla handles its deliveries. Instead of taking delivery, Ehrenpreis offered the car to Musk as a 46th birthday present. Now Ehrenpreis will be taking delivery of the second-ever Model 3 off of the production line.

It’s still not clear what the exact specification of the car is, but if all of Tesla’s promises hold up, it should have the hardware for Tesla Autopilot, a range of at least 215 miles, and a zero to 60 mph time of 5.6 seconds. It’s kind of odd that we haven’t seen more of the first production Model 3 since last night—you know, stuff like the interior—but I’m sure they’ll get around to it eventually.

What a lovely sentiment from one rich guy about to get stupidly more rich to another rich guy about to get stupidly more rich.

http://jalopnik.com/the-first-production-tesla-model-3-was-a-birthday-gift-1796754574
 
Tesla cockpits do look bland though. Looks like all you get is the wheel and that big ass tablet
 
Elon Musk unveils Tesla's first production Model 3

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed images of its production Model 3, its first electric car for the masses. What's more, the new EV is headed for South Africa.

SA petrolheads went wild with excitement when Musk tweeted in 2016: "Adding several more countries to Model 3 order page. Check for details but will include India, Brazil, SA, SK, New Zealand, Singapore & Ireland."

The Model 3 could arrive locally in 2018 or 2019. Musk tweeted that the first 30 Model 3 customers will receive their new Teslas later in July 2017.

The Model 3 will start at $35 000 (R468 387), making it the cheapest Tesla yet.

Key facts about the Model 3
Price - $35 000 (R468 387)
Range - 346km
0 - 100km/h - six seconds
Autopilot Hardware
Supercharging
Seating for 5 Adults

http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/Gear...t-model-3-electric-car-headed-for-sa-20170709
 
Will be interesting to see how this pans out given the paucity of public charging stations in the country - an exciting development nonetheless
 
Headed for SA? What we know about Tesla's new Model 3 sedan

Earlier in July, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed images of its production Model 3, its first electric car for the masses. What's more, the new EV could be headed for South Africa.

Tesla's set to deliver the new electric Model 3 compact car to its first 30 customers on Friday (July 28).

The car is half the cost of Tesla's previous models, so it has the potential to attract many more customers to the brand.

Tesla hasn't revealed many details about the Model 3.

Here's what we know so far:

Size: Tesla has said the Model 3 will be similar in size to the Audi A4 or the BMW 3 Series, which would put it in the medium-sized sedan segment.

The company says the Model 3 can seat five adults and has more cargo capacity than similar cars of its size, since it has trunks in both the front and rear.

Price: The starting price of the Model 3 is $35 000 (the equivalent of R455 000). With a $7500 US tax credit, that falls to $27 500, but that tax credit is likely to begin phasing out in 2018 Tesla sells more than 200 000 vehicles in the US. Many states offer additional tax credits, including California, Colorado and New York.

Range: 346km on a charge.

Features: The hardware for Autopilot, Tesla's partially self-driving system, will be on all cars, but customers will have to pay extra for the whole suite of capabilities, including automatic lane-changing.

The Model 3 will have fewer configurations than earlier Tesla vehicles, to make manufacturing less complex. But CEO Elon Musk has said customers will get to choose a color and wheel size.

Ordering: Potential buyers can put down a $1000 refundable deposit to get on the list for a Model 3.

People reserving a car now will likely get it in the middle of 2018, Tesla says. Tesla hasn't said how many reservations it has for the car.

Headed for SA?

SA petrolheads went wild with excitement when Musk tweeted in 2016: "Adding several more countries to Model 3 order page. Check for details but will include India, Brazil, SA, SK, New Zealand, Singapore & Ireland."

The Model 3 could arrive locally in 2018 or 2019.

Adding several more countries to Model 3 order page tonight. Check for details, but will include India, Brazil, SA, SK, NZ, Sing & Ireland.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2016
It’s the only American car in the 2018 North American Car of the Year:

The Model 3 has been made the eligible vehicle list for the 2018 North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards, the only US vehicle to make the cut.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/Gear...-know-about-teslas-new-model-3-sedan-20170728
 
Officially shipping the first 30 cars today. Gonna be interesting, lotta rumours to be confirmed.
 
Tesla Model 3: first customer delivery to take place tonight

Elon Musk will hand over the first Model 3 to its new owner during an event at 4:45am BST on Saturday morning

The first Tesla Model 3 customer car will be handed over at an event tonight, kicking off deliveries for the brand's highest-demanded vehicle.

CEO Elon Musk will pass the Model 3 onto its owner at 4:45am BST - 8:45pm PT - before production is ramped up to more than 100 cars in August. Tesla plans to follow this with 1500 cars in September and then to move towards maximum output of 20,000 cars per month from December.

Several cars have already rolled off the production line at the firm's Gigafactory in Nevada, US, but none have reached their owners as of yet.

The Model 3 has an entry-level price of $35,000 (about £28,000) and has been ordered by around 500,000 customers, which is the maximum output possible at Tesla's new battery-producing Gigafactory. The first models will be given to owners at a handover event on 28 July.

Production starts as Tesla injects $1 billion (around £800 million) of investment into the company, something CEO Musk has previously said would help the company meet the high demand requirements of its new model.

The manufacturer has raised capital to help production and ease the financial risk associated with the production run, which led to a rise in its share price that was also helped by reports of its future model plans, including the Model Y compact SUV, according to New York financiers.

Tesla has also said it aimed to deliver a combined total of 47,000 to 50,000 Model S and Model Xs in the first half of this year, but did not give a figure for Model 3 target sales.

It has, however, reaffirmed its pledge to deliver 500,000 vehicles in 2018 and one million in 2020, when the Gigafactory is expected to reach full capacity - a sharp rise from the 80,000 delivered in 2016.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/tesla-model-3-first-customer-delivery-take-place-tonight
 
Tesla Model 3 spotted testing in the snow in New Zealand

The first Tesla Model 3 spotted outside the US was at the Auckland airport in New Zealand last month.

It was speculated that the vehicle made its way around the world to play in New Zealand’s snow and it has now been confirmed as the vehicle was spotted performance testing in winter conditions up in the mountains.
The Model 3 is not likely to see tough winter driving conditions by the end of the year since early deliveries are expected to be concentrated in California.

But as production ramps up and Tesla starts expanding its delivery range to other regions, the vehicle should end up in a real winter on the east coast or Canada during the first few months of 2018.

Though it’s already winter in New Zealand, which makes it ideal to test the Model 3 in winter conditions.

Will Yates and Ollie Yates spotted what appears to be the same Model 3 seen at the airport last month, but now it was driving up near the Snow Farm Lodge. They shared a video with New Zealand’s Ecotricity:

It looks like they have been putting the vehicle through its pace since it looks pretty banged-up

Tesla has been putting a lot of emphasis on winter driving performance with the Model S and Model X. The Model X has never been a concern since it’s only offered in all-wheel-drive, but even the rear-wheel-drive Model S has proved to be performing well under tough winter conditions. After all, Norway has long been one of Tesla’s biggest markets.

There’s no reason to think the Model 3 shouldn’t have comparable performance in winter conditions – though it will only be offered in rear-wheel-drive until the dual motor version is available later this year or early 2018, according to CEO Elon Musk.

Anyway, it’s a cool video to keep us waiting for the Model 3 delivery event later today.

https://electrek.co/2017/07/28/tesla-model-3-spotted-testing-snow-new-zealand/

3bc16401e2a0e582f586d9c4f0ce8b9f.jpg


https://youtu.be/XIod1XltVw8
 
Tesla Model 3 revealed: production to ramp up to 20,000 units per month

Elon Musk handed over the first Model 3 to its new owner during an event; it is the most demanded Tesla yet

Tesla CEO Elon Musk handed over the first customer Model 3 to its owner at an event last night, where he also pledged to meet demand with an ambitious production schedule.

He confirmed that production for the Model 3 is already in full swing at Tesla's Gigafactory in Nevada, US. It expects to build 100 cars in August, before growing output to 1500 cars in September. The plant will reach maximum pace from December, when it'll be able to produce 20,000 cars per month.

The Model 3 has an entry-level price of $35,000 (about £28,000) and has been ordered by around 500,000 customers, which is the maximum annual output possible at Tesla's new battery-producing Gigafactory.

Tesla recently injected $1 billion (around £800 million) of investment into the company, something CEO Musk has previously said would help the company meet the high demand requirements of its new model.

The manufacturer has raised capital to help production and ease the financial risk associated with the production run, which led to a rise in its share price that was also helped by reports of its future model plans, including the Model Y compact SUV, according to New York financiers.

Tesla has also said it aimed to deliver a combined total of 47,000 to 50,000 Model S and Model Xs in the first half of this year, but did not give a figure for Model 3 target sales.

It has, however, reaffirmed its pledge to deliver 500,000 vehicles in 2018 and one million in 2020, when the Gigafactory is expected to reach full capacity - a sharp rise from the 80,000 delivered in 2016.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/tesla-model-3-revealed-production-ramp-20000-units-month

https://youtu.be/vzT0uNT0ds8
 
Tesla Model 3: range, performance and US pricing revealed

Elon Musk handed over the first Model 3 to its new owner during an event; it is the most demanded Tesla yet

Tesla CEO Elon Musk handed over the first customer Model 3 to its owner at an event last night, where he also pledged to meet the massive demand for the car with an ambitious production schedule.

Musk confirmed that production for the Model 3 is already in full swing at Tesla's Gigafactory in Nevada, US. It expects to build 100 cars in August, before growing output to 1500 cars in September. The plant will reach maximum pace from December, when it'll be able to produce 20,000 cars per month. However, right-hand drive models won't begin production until 2019. If Tesla hits its planned production of 500,000 cars a year from the factory, analysts predict that it will outsell BMW, Mercedes and Lexus in the US.

Prospective Tesla Model 3 owners tell us why they're buying one

Tesla recently injected $1 billion (around £800 million) of investment into the company, something CEO Musk has previously said would help it meet the high demand for the Model 3. To date, Tesla has had more than 500,000 pre-orders for the Model 3, with Musk saying that they should all be delivered before the end of 2018. "If you order a car today it should be with you at the end of 2018," he said, referring to left-hand drive production.

The manufacturer has raised capital to help production and ease the financial risk associated with the production run, which led to a rise in its share price that was also helped by reports of its future model plans, including the Model Y compact SUV, according to New York financiers. However, some analysts still question Tesla's ability to ramp up from producing around 80,000 cars in the past year to 250,000 in the next 12 months.

Musk also confirmed that two versions of the Model 3 will be offered from launch: standard and Long Range models. The standard car costs from $35,000 (£26,650) and has a claimed range of 220 miles, hits 0-60mph in 5.6sec and has a top speed of 130mph. The Long Range model costs from $44,000 (£33,500), delivering an official 310 miles of range, 0-60mph in 5.1sec and a 140mph top speed.

No details of UK pricing or delivery dates in 2019 have been revealed, but the entry-level price is expected to be just over £30,000 after the £4500 government grant for zero emissions vehicles is applied. That will pitch it against the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Jaguar XE and Mercedes C-class in terms of pricing and size.

It was also reconfirmed that Tesla Model 3 owners will not get free access to the Tesla Supercharger high-speed charging system, with the company planning to charge for electricity as demand grows and it requires more investment to build out the network of chargers.

Tesla has also said it aimed to deliver a combined total of 47,000 to 50,000 Model S and Model Xs in the first half of this year, but did not give a figure for Model 3 target sales.

It has, however, reaffirmed its pledge to deliver 500,000 vehicles in 2018 and one million in 2020, when the Gigafactory is expected to reach full capacity - a sharp rise from the 80,000 cars delivered in 2016.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/tesla-model-3-range-performance-and-us-pricing-revealed
 
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