The Tesla Model 3 peeks its way into the world Thursday night, the first appearance of the so-called volume model from the California electric car company.
who put down a $1,000 deposit to be among the first to get the new car. But Tesla says deliveries won't begin until the end of 2017.
"It takes multiple iterations and economies of scale before you can make it affordable," Musk said at Thursday's event.
What the company's founder, Elon Musk, is pledging at this point is that the Model 3 will cost from $35,000 before government tax incentives. The company promises a minimum EPA-rating of 215 miles on a single charge, with other versions planning to exceed that. Musk says the slowest version will get from 0 to 60 mph in six seconds. He also says five passengers will be able to sit comfortably, thanks to a repackaged interior. Autopilot hardware will be standard, as well as a glass roof.
When the Model 3 officially goes on sale, prepare for a wait – even if you put down a deposit today. Deliveries start with West Coast customers, then expanding to the rest of the country and the world. And more details will be released as the production start date grows closer.
More details to come...