Buyers who order a new Tesla Model 3 now won’t receive their cars until the middle of 2018 at the earliest, according to a new post on the Tesla website.
More than half a million Model 3s have been ordered so far, with deliveries of the car initially due to start from late next year, but new customers could end up waiting a lot longer.
Originally, the post was interpreted to mean that all Model 3 orders had been delayed, but Tesla released a statement saying that it only applies to cars ordered from this point onwards.
Only applies to new orders
It said: “We still plan to begin Model 3 deliveries in late 2017, and we adjusted the date on our marketing page to reflect more accurate timing for new/future reservation holders.”
A smaller and more affordable alternative to cars like the Model S and Model X, the Model 3 is Tesla’s first true mass-market vehicle and will be priced from approximately £22,900 in the UK.
Just one week after being unveiled earlier this year, more than 325,000 pre-orders were placed for the Model 3, making it the biggest one-week launch of any product in history.
Tesla production increased by 70%
Aiming to provide an all-electric alternative to cars like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the Model 3 is a four-door saloon with a range of around 215 miles on a single charge.
Even in its most basic form, it’ll be able to sprint from 0-62mph in under six seconds while still being big enough to fit up to five adults inside its airy cabin, which features a large single-pane glass roof.
Earlier this month, Tesla reported that after a shaky second quarter this year, it’s been able to increase production of its cars by 70 per cent, delivering 15,800 Model S and 8,700 Model X cars.
