Tesla Model 3: Everything You Want to Know

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the first 2017 Model 3 sedans will reach their first customers at the end of July. Tesla has kept pretty tight-lipped about Model 3 details beyond its official communications channels, and so we've combed the company's press information and social media posts to create this FAQ, which we will continue to update as new information becomes availablle.

When Will the Model 3 Be Available?

The first Tesla Model 3 rolled off the assembly line in early July. Musk said that production would increase "exponentially" from around 100 cars in August to about 20,000 cars a month by December 2017. According to the Tesla website, shoppers who put down a deposit today will get their car in mid-2018 or later.

How Much Will It Cost?

Tesla has said the base-spec Model 3 will cost around $35,000 before federal and state tax credits (more on that later). As we've found with Teslas, though, the price accelerates quickly when you need more functionality or power. However, Musk said in March 2017 that "we are minimizing configuration complexity to keep the production ramp on schedule," so we will have to keep a lookout for the Tesla Model 3 configurator. Base on past history with the Model S, we would expect Autopilot software, glass roof, charger upgrade, premium package, and winter package will be extra.

If I Order One Today, When Would It Arrive?

According to the Tesla website, anyone putting down a deposit today should expect to see the car deilvered in mid-2018 or later.

For the typical car buyer, we advise holding off being the first on your block to own an all-new car. There are almost always quality glitches with new models on the assembly line, and the Tesla Model S has been no exception.

Will the Model 3 Use Front-, Rear-, or All-Wheel Drive?

Like the Model S, the Model 3 will offer both rear- and all-wheel drive using either a single- or dual-motor setup, although Musk has said that the first models will likely be single-motor and rear-wheel-drive only; all-wheel-drive and dual-motor setups are expected to arrive months later.

Does the 0-60 MPH Time of Just Under 6 Seconds Apply to the Dual-Motor Cars?

The Tesla website says 0-60 mph times should be under 6 seconds, but doesn't specify which motor approach was used to determine that. We rode shotgun in a dual-motor Model 3 at the launch event in 2016, and our 0-60 mph estimate was under five seconds. Whether it will have a Ludicrous Mode or go to "Maximum Plaid" remains to be seen.

Is the Styling Finalized?

Musk released two photos of the first Model 3 to come off of the assembly in Fremont, Calif., in mid-July. One example is below:

Will the Model 3 Be a Hatchback?

Despite its similarity in shape to the Model S, the Model 3 will be a sedan with a traditional trunk opening. Musk tweeted that, in order to provide the necessary rear seat headroom (under Model 3's massive glass rear roof), the cross-car support beam had to be moved to the base of the rear window, which precludes the use of a hatchback. In response to Twitter comments about the small size of the opening, Musk said it would be enlarged for the production vehicles.

Will Child Seats Fit in the Model 3's Rear Seat?

Yes, the Model 3 will accommodate two large child seats or three if the seats are "slim," Tesla said.

How Far Can the Model 3 Go on a Charge?

Tesla says the Model 3 should travel 215 miles on a full electric charge. This is important, as the car does not have a gasoline engine, so you are constrained by the availability of recharging plugs. Although older, affordable EVs have a range around 80 to 120 miles, Chevrolet's new 2017 Bolt touts an EPA-estimated 235 miles of range, and it costs slightly more than the Model 3 ($37,500 versus $35,000 for the Model 3).

One reason for such range is the Model 3's very low coefficient of drag. Musk said it will be on the order of 0.21, which would make it one of the most (if not the most) aerodynamic production vehicles on the road. The most aerodynamic mass-market vehicles built today, including the Tesla Model S and the 2016 Toyota Prius, have a Cd of around 0.24. The Nissan Leaf has a Cd of 0.28, while the Toyota Sienna minivan has a Cd of 0.31.

Will the Model 3 Only Have a Single Screen Display?

Tesla said the cars at the initial reveal (which have a single center-mounted screen that included minimal instrumentation) were "production intent." However, when asked on Twitter about the lack of a separate instrument panel or head-up display, Musk said that the instrument layout "will make sense after part 2 of the Model 3 unveil."

Will the Model 3 Come Standard With All Autopilot Features?

Tesla's Autopilot consists of hardware and software. All Model 3s will have Autopilot hardware and safety features as standard, with "convenience" software features as an extra-cost option. We interpret this to mean that all Model 3s will have front- and side-collision avoidance, while the software for adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, automated lane changing, and automatic parking will be extra-cost options that could be activated with over-the-air software updates.

Who Will Be the First to Get Their Model 3?

In early July, Musk said the first 30 buyers would get their cars on July 28, 2017. After that, he said in a Twitter Q&A, those who placed early orders will have a priority over others in their area.

Will Tesla Model 3 Buyers Be Eligible for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit?

Maybe not all of them. The Federal tax credit has a cap: After a manufacturer sells a cumulative 200,000 eligible pure-electric vehicles, the IRS 30D(a) tax credit for that manufacturer's vehicles remains at 100 percent of its original value for one quarter, then the credit is halved in value ($3,750) for two quarters, then drops to 25 percent ($1,875) for one quarter. After that, the credit is eliminated.

Tesla has announced it has already sold 100,000 EVs in the U.S. with its Model S and Model X. Given the number of reported deposits for the Model 3, the tax credit could start to fall well before all of the existing Model 3 pre-orders have been filled.

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