Tesla Model 3 starts production

The first models of the US$35,000 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle begin production this week after passing key regulatory tests ahead of schedule.

But EVTalk understands New Zealand pricing will be in line with BMW 3-Series pricing, which could sit between the mid to high $60,000s.

Electrek reports all of the 2017 Model 3 production are likely to go to California.

“Model 3 passed all regulatory requirements for production two weeks ahead of schedule,” Tesla chief executive Elon Musk tweeted this week.

“Expecting to complete SN1 on Friday.

“Looks like we can reach 20,000 Model 3 cars per month in Dec.”

The California-based company aims to make 5000 Model 3 sedans weekly by the end of the year and 10,000 a week in 2018.

Tesla has not said how many people have put down US$1000 (NZ$1370) refundable deposits for the Model 3, but Musk says people who put down a deposit now will not get a car until the end of 2018 – suggesting it could be close to 500,000.

The Daily Mail says the sporty five-seat sedan can get to 96.5kmh in under six seconds and will travel 340 kilometres on a single charge.

The car has a computer monitor controlled by a touchscreen in its centre instead of a traditional dashboard, showing details about the EV and its route.

Each side of the steering wheel will have a single scroll button.

Even if the Model 3 is on time, servicing all those vehicles will still provide a challenge, the Daily Mail

says.

Model S and Model X owners are worried about having to share Tesla’s company-owned charging stations with an influx of new cars.

And while Tesla is promising to increase its network of stores and service centres by 30% this year, it began 2017 with just 250 service centres worldwide.

Musk has said a new fleet of mobile service trucks will be deployed to help customers far from service centres.

Tesla also plans to double its global high-speed charging points to 10,000 by the end of this year and increase them by another 50%-100% in 2018.

Rumours around the Model 3’s production began last week after Musk said there would be ‘News on Sunday’, in reply to a tweet by Sydney-based Douglas Bailey who asked Musk to end the speculation on the Model 3 release date.