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Tesla Model 3 Is Heading To Europe (bloomberg.com)

The Tesla Model 3 has cleared its last regulatory hurdle in Europe and will soon go on sale in the continent home to Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. "Deliveries should start in February for the Long Range Battery version of the midsize sedan -- the same variant first sold in the U.S. -- according to Tesla, after Dutch vehicle authority RDW issued the OK," reports Bloomberg. From the report: The European launch is crucial for Tesla as it navigates what Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk called a "very difficult" road ahead. The company is cutting jobs so it can profitably deliver lower-priced versions of the Model 3, Tesla's first car targeted for the mass market. Musk has pointed to sales of the sedan in Europe and China as a main reason he isn't concerned about any potential setback caused by a halving of the U.S. federal tax credit, to $3,750, on Tesla purchases as of Jan. 1.

With the Model 3, Tesla also has an opportunity to broaden its attack on the premium car market dominated by Germany's BMW AG, Daimler AG-owned Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen AG's Audi. Tesla, based in Palo Alto, California, said in its third-quarter shareholder letter that "the midsized premium sedan market in Europe is more than twice as big as the same segment in the U.S." The Model 3 became the top-selling luxury car there last year, outstripping the Audi Q5, BMW 3 Series and other well-known models. Analysts and industry executives, however, have observed that competition with Tesla cuts across traditional categories.

2 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. Re:T-Minus 2 years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Do you even know what "an anti-trust suit" is? Apparently not.

  2. Re:Why all the mentions of the Big Three? by Rei · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Does anybody seriously think the Tesla Model 3 will be competitive with anything from Mercedes, Audi and BMW?

    What do you mean 'will be'? No need for the future tense.

    Tesla has a niche, because it currently is the only brand offering cars with such large batteries.

    Hey, remember how the Bolt was supposed to blow away Tesla sales because of its large battery? Funny thing...

    Moreover, since the Big Three will offer premium EVs very soon

    Yes, same "Tesla Killer" story we've been hearing for the past decade. Meanwhile, Tesla's lead only continues to grow.

    --
    Hey, guys, I'm just pleased as punch to report that it's a fleet of a hundred Vogon Battle Destroyers!