Tesla Launches Base Model 3 For $35,000 With Shorter Range, New Interior (electrek.co)

In a call with reporters Thursday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company is finally launching the long-promised standard Model 3 with a base price of $35,000. "The automaker is now making several new versions of the Model 3 available with a shorter range and new interior options," reports Electrek. From the report: Today, Tesla sent an email to its retail stores the details of the announcement of the new options being available to order in the U.S. today and available as soon as next month. All the details are expected to become available in the next hour, but here's what we know so far: Customers are now able to order the $35,000 Model 3 with a standard interior and standard battery pack enabling 130mph top speed and 5.6s 0-60s acceleration. Tesla is also making a new "Partial Premium Interior" with better seats than the standard interior available with a different "standard range plus" battery pack for a $2,000 premium. The Model 3 Standard Range Plus results in 240 miles of range, a top speed of 140mph, 0-60mph acceleration of just 5.3 seconds. Tesla says that deliveries are starting within the next 2 to 4 weeks depending on the configuration in the U.S. In Europe, Musk said it will be available to order within the "next 3 to 6 months." Slashdot reader Rei provides additional details: The new unveiling introduced a whole slew of variants, including (price, range, top speed, 0-60, premium):

SR: $35K, 220 miles, 130mph, 5.6 seconds, non-PUP
SR+: $37K, 240 miles, 140mph, 5.3 seconds, partial-PUP
MR: $40K, 264 miles, 140mph, 5.2 seconds, PUP
LR: $43K, 325 miles, 140mph, 5.0 seconds, PUP
AWD: $47K, 310 miles, 145mph, 4.5 seconds, PUP
P: $48K, 310 miles, 162mph, 3.2 seconds, PUP

Pricing, ranges, and features have by and large significantly surpassed initial promises. For example, the Long Range (LR) variant was supposed to be a $9K premium over SR, with the Premium Upgrades Package another $5k, but now PUP is included in LR and the price difference is only $8K. Range and performance specs have been upgraded not just on new vehicles, but will also be upgraded on existing vehicles, where applicable, via software update. The price for Autopilot has dropped from $5K to $3K, and some features once planned to be premium-only -- including the glass roof and auto dimming, power folding, heated side mirrors -- are now standard. The Model S and X product line has also been modified, with higher performance at the top end and lower prices at the bottom.

To achieve cost savings, in addition to production optimizations and the recent layoffs, Tesla announced an unexpected strategy: they're closing most of their stores. Sales will only be conducted online. Instead of test drives, cars can be returned within 7 days or 1,000 miles at no charge. "Quite literally, you could buy a Tesla, drive several hundred miles for a weekend road trip with friends and then return it for free," Tesla said in their blog post.

Comments

Closing their stores?

[Anonymous Coward]

The one part that I think doesn't signal they are doing well is the closing of the stores. I know where I am there is a Tesla store in the mall and it's always packed. Granted, where I live (S. Fla) is a haven for Tesla vehicles - but still - I think cars are something people want a shopping experience with and I feel this will be a mistake for Tesla.

Hyundai Kona Electric

[ghoul]

The Hyundai Kona Electric is now available to order with deliveries on Mar 15. Its 37000 or 27000 after tax breaks in California. 260 Mi range and an SUV rather than a Sedan.
The only problem is its so much in demand even though the MSRP is 37000 dealers are charging 41000 as its a better car than the 42000$ Model 3.
Now that the 35000$ Tesla has got released maybe the price premium on the Kona Electric will go down
Thanks Elon. I was in 2 minds about the Kona Electric purchase. Your timely move will let me get it for $27K. (Note its still cheaper than the base model Model 3 as Hyundai gets the entire 10K tax break)

Re:Hyundai Kona Electric

[drinkypoo]

Which was proven false. Tesla loses money on every car it has ever built.

Sure, after R&D and Capex, but what the rest of the class is talking about is whether the vehicle is profitable to make if you're accounting for current expenses, like materials, labor, power, and the like. Try to keep up. As long as they're making a day-to-day profit selling vehicles, which they are doing, they're making up their deficit.

Tesla has never made a profit in its entire existence

Sure.

and never will.

Possible.

They are gonna be out of business very soon now.

Trolls like you have been saying that for years now.

Re:What?

[thegarbz]

Closing the stores? Where are you supposed to go to get the car serviced?

Service center, or use one of their mobile service options? I can't say I've ever driven my car back to a showroom for a service.

Re:How is it "better"?

[whoever57]

It has level 3 charge which mean 80% and 200 miles in 34 minutes.

If you can use one of the handful of 150kW (or above) chargers currently installed across the USA. Otherwise, it's going to take a lot longer.

I drove a friends Model 3 and it is very disconcerting to have to look to your right as there are no dials where we have grown up expecting them to be.

You get used to the display position very quickly. Besides, some of us got used to driving the original Minis.

Also the mPGe is higher which means Hyundais electric drivetrain is more efficient than Teslas and can get more range out of the same battery pack

Only in town. Model 3 has higher efficiency at freeway speeds and higher overall MPGe.

It has 260 miles and access to CCS and ChargeAmerica so it is pretty much a better long range car than a Tesla MR for 10000 dollars less.

There are very few CCS chargers that deliver more than 50kW, so charging is typically going to be slower than any Tesla. Also, those chargers are not as convenient for road tripping -- they are much more likely to be in a city than along a highway. When I looked last year, there were large cities in the USA that you could not get to in a Chevy Bolt, without charging for hours at a level 2 charger. It's getting better, but has a long way to go before it matches the Supercharger network

And if you are doing a long 400 mile drive would you rather do it in a cramped sedan or a SUV with more legspace.

There is plenty of legroom in a Model 3. It's one of the very few cars that I have driven in which I don't put the seat all the way back.