The Tesla Model 3 has been unveiled by chief executive Elon Musk, priced from $35,000 (circa £25k) causing a frenzy amongst buyers waiting for the first affordable model from the Silicon Valley car maker, with 115,000 orders taken within hours.
Following on from the Tesla Model S high-performance saloon car and Model X family SUV, which both cost upwards of £59k, the all-electric Model S is a smaller four-door saloon, aimed at models like the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class, with a range of around 215 miles from a full charge.
Even in its most basic form, the Model 3 will accelerate from 0-60mph in less than six seconds, while feeling spacious enough for five adults inside thanks to the compact nature of its electric powertrain, allowing for more interior room. It should be an airy cabin too, thanks to a large single-pane glass roof.
The Model 3 will support Tesla’s controversial “autopilot” technology, which allows the car to drive autonomously where road conditions allow it, along with “supercharging”, which allows the battery pack to be charged far more quickly than normal at certain recharging stations.
When the order books opened yesterday, a deposit of £1,000 was required to be placed on the waiting list for a Model 3, with a separate queue for each region of sale. As a nod to current Tesla owners, they have been given priority over newcomers to the brand.
Tesla built just over 50,000 cars in 2015, with its Model S becoming the world’s best-selling all-electric car, ahead of the Nissan LEAF. But, Elon Musk has announced Tesla’s target is to sell 500,000 vehicles per year. This goal will be helped by the Gigafactory, which will mass-produce the lithium-ion batteries required for such a ramp-up in electric car production.