Tesla Motors has finally started deliveries of the Model 3 sedan, after the company’s CEO delivered the first 30 cars to customers at a massive handover event in Fremont, California. Interestingly, the company used a projector driven by a Tesla Model S to display the presentation image on the factory’s wall, instead of organizing the event at a dedicated auditorium.
Earlier in July 2017, Tesla had announced the start of production of its most ambitious car ever – the 2017 Tesla Model 3. Being the cheapest Tesla car ever produced, the Model 3 is expected to bring in huge volumes for the carmaker. Tesla is also expanding itself into various new countries, including India. However, thanks to the Indian government’s in-clarity on taxation reliefs for electric cars, the Model 3’s India launch is expected to take another year or so.
Tesla’s CEO and serial entrepreneur, Elon Musk, has revealed that a total of 50 production-spec models have been produced this month. Out of these, 20 units will be used for internal testing, while the rest 30 have already been delivered to customers. However, the company is expecting to increase production from the following months. As a result, August will see deliveries of 100 cars, while the month of September will see deliveries of over 1,500 units. Eventually, Tesla wants to stabilise production of the Model 3 at 20,000 units per month from December 2017.
The Model 3 marks the launch of the first mass market offering from Tesla. It will be priced at $35,000, which is equivalent to around Rs. 28 lakh. However, the Indian prices are expected to hover around the Rs. 50 lakh mark, owing to the taxes applicable in the country. It remains to be seen whether the Government of India provides any incentives to Tesla, under its plans to promote green cars in the country.
Tesla Model 3 Specifications
The Model 3 is powered by a 60 kW lithium-ion battery pack. It is claimed to have a range of around 350 kilometers and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in around 6 seconds.
| Powerplant | 60 Kw-h lithium-ion battery |
| Electric Range | around 350 km per charge |
| Acceleration (0-100 km/h) | 6 seconds |
| Drivetrain System | RWD (initially) & AWD (in 2018) |
Tesla Model 3 Bookings
Bookings for the Model 3 started when Elon Musk revealed the first prototype of the car on March 31, 2016. Customers in selected markets, including India, were able to book the car by paying a token amount of US$1,000. Tesla is said to have received over 4 lakh orders of the Model 3 within a span of 4 months.
Tesla Model 3 waiting period and delivery timeline
Tesla has till date received over half a million bookings for the Model 3. The company has also claimed that it will be doing everything it can to make sure that every booked customer gets the car as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, if a customer orders the Tesla Model 3 at the moment, he/she can expect a delivery by the end of next year.