Tesla Delivers First 30 Units Of Model 3 To Owners

This is the first time Tesla has managed to deliver the first units of a car on the promised date. Their first electric sportscar built on the Lotus Elise's chassis faced multiple production delays. The story was the same with the Model S and the Model X. As Tesla was new to the car game, it was having trouble deciphering the puzzles and getting the development and production streamlined.

By now, the world's most sought after electric car manufacturer has over a decade of experience building cars, and it shows. For the first time, Tesla was able to keep its promise of delivering the first production specimens of the Model 3 in July. The company handed keys to the first 30 owners on July 28 at its Fremont plant in California. Tesla will use the other 20 cars built in July for further internal testing and research purposes.

Pricing for only two variants was announced:

Standard Model 3: US $ 35,000 (~Rs 22.5 lakh)

-- Range: 354km/charge

-- Top Speed: 210kmph

-- Acceleration 0-60mph (0-96.5kmph): 5.6 seconds

Long Range Model 3: US # 44,000 (~Rs 28.3 lakh)

-- Range: 500km/charge

-- Top Speed: 226kmph

-- Acceleration: 0-60mph (0-96.5kmph): 5.1 seconds

The Model 3's exteriors look almost like a Model S, but smaller. The car obviously misses out on many luxurious features like popping door handles, powered tail gate, or a pretty key fob. However, those who got to take the wheel say that it drives exactly like a Model S, only slower.

The interiors, though, look vastly different from any car on the market right now, electric or otherwise. To keep costs in check Tesla has taken the minimalist route, and it instantly becomes apparent as you notice the instrument cluster missing. A large 15-inch touchscreen takes centre stage, and it acts as the primary way to manage the air conditioning, play music, search for locations on the map and navigate. You even open the glovebox using this touchscreen. The screen also shows all the data you'd expect to see behind the steering wheel, such as the speedometer and remaining range. Tesla has made this car with autonomous driving in mind and therefore believes that a traditional gauge cluster won't be missed when the car is driving itself. Letting it go also takes one screen out of the Model 3 and keeps the cost in check. Speaking of cost cutting, the entire dash top is flat with minimal curves, if any. There are also no visible vents for the air conditioning as a single strip running edge to edge just under the dash top acts as a vent. You control the volume and direction of flow of air using, you guessed it, the touchscreen.

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To maximise headroom at the back, the Tesla team decided to extend the slanting rear windshield and use it as the sloping roof. The rear passengers, consequently, get a helicopter-like view of the world on top through the glass roof.

All the variants will come with the necessary kit to allow the car to drive by itself. Buyers will have to pony up extra cash to unlock the self-driving hardware and software package.

Tesla will only produce the top-end trim with limited customisation options. You can pick the colour, the size and design of the alloys, and that's it. Limiting options and variants at the beginning will help the American carmaker ramp up the production to its initial target of churning out 5,000 cars/week and scale it up to 10,000 cars/week by early 2018. If you book the Model 3 right now, then you'll likely have to wait until early 2019 before you get the wheels.

India launch is unlikely unless the government decides to give tax breaks to electric car manufacturers, at least during the initial phase, to accelerate the sales.

Also Read: Tesla Teases Upcoming Model Y