The Tesla Model 3 Is Finally Here. Sort Of.

(groovy music)

[Announcer] With a rock star's entrance

for Tesla CEO, Elon Musk kicked off a special delivery

night for the Tesla Model 3.

So let's hand over some cars.

(cheers)

[Announcer] The first 30 owners

are all Tesla and SpaceX employees

and should have a higher tolerance for any early bugs.

With a normal car delivery, you'd hand over the keys,

but the Model 3 uses a bluetooth link to your phone

to unlock, instead.

Sadly, the wait goes on for the rest of the 500,000

people who have put down $1000 deposits

for the newest member of the Tesla family.

Frankly, we're going to be in production hell.

Welcome, welcome. Welcome to production hell.

[Announcer] Musk made a heartfelt promise

to everyone who put down that one grand:

We're going to do everything we possibly can

to get you a car as soon as possible.

So, we're going to work day and night

to do right by the loyalty that you've shown us.

[Announcer] But at least they now know more about the car.

The Model 3 will start at $35,000, just like Musk promised,

but only for the most basic version.

It has 220 miles of range.

There's a long distance option, too,

which will go 310 miles, but that's an extra nine grand.

Outside, it looks like a shrunken Model S.

Inside takes minimal to an extreme.

With just one large touchscreen that does everything,

shows the speed, controls the radio,

and adjusts the mirrors.

Activating auto pilot features adds $5000

to the bottom line.

Like all of Tesla's cars, the Model 3

comes with enough sensors and computing power

to enable full self-driving, according to Musk.

Right now, it's semi-autonomous.

The car can handle some of the driving tasks

on freeways, but the rest could come

with over the air software updates,

one day.

Every Tesla being produced right now,

the Model 3, the Model S, the Model X

has all of the hardware necessary for full autonomy.

[Announcer] The Model 3 is the culmination

of Elon Musk's master plan.

It began with the Tesla Roadster,

an expensive sports car.

Then Tesla used that money to build slightly

more reasonably-priced cars: the Models S and X,

which provided the money to build an affordable car

that many, many more people can buy: the Model 3.

And it's all in the name of shifting the world

to sustainable energy.

The big question for so many out there:

A frequent question that I get asked,

Where is my Model 3?

Sometimes not phrased quite as nicely as that.

[Announcer] But Musk wouldn't say exactly when

Tesla would start deliveries for those who've

already paid the deposit.

He did promise that if you've reserved already,

you'll get it by the end of 2018.

To give you a sense, if you order a Model 3 now,

you'll probably get it towards the end of next year.

[Announcer] Here's hoping.

(groovy music)