Want Your Tesla Model 3 Before 2019? You'd Better Act Fast

by Steph Willems

Published: May 6th, 2016

want your tesla model 3 before 2019 you d better act fast

Time’s a wastin’ if you want to impress your friends and neighbors with a gee-whiz Tesla Model 3 anytime in the next three years.

As he’s known to do, Tesla founder Elon Musk took to Twitter last night to warm wannabe owners about the growing wait for his $35,000 electric sedan. If you’re just lining up for a Model 3 now, consider signing a lease for another vehicle while you wait — you probably won’t have to terminate it early.

“Tesla is increasing the production ramp as fast as possible, but I’d recommend ordering a Model 3 soon if you want 2018 delivery,” Musk tweeted.

You snooze, you loose.

There’s already about 400,000 Model 3 reservations on the books, with production not kicking off until late next year. It wasn’t long after orders began that questions started popping up about the lengthy wait.

Recently, Musk said he’s hoping to get 100,000 to 200,000 Model 3s out the door before the end of 2017, with existing west coast Tesla customers getting first dibs. In a perfect situation, there’ll be no supply issues, no delays in production, and the company’s Fremont factory will ramp up production (of all Teslas) to 500,000 units a year in 2018.

Even then, you might not see your Model 3 until 2019. The 200-mile Chevrolet Bolt EV could be due for a styling refresh by then.

No biggie for Tesla enthusiasts, though. There’s plenty of hard-core fans willing to wait until the end of the world to get their hands on Musk’s brainchild.

[Image: Tesla Motors]

#BrandAppeal #CarProduction #ElectricVehicles #ElonMusk #EVs #FutureVehicles #Model3 #ProductPlanning #Tesla #TeslaModel3

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10 of 49 comments

Kurtamaxxguy on May 06, 2016

Sorry but I don't comprehend Tesla 3 mania. We have a promised car that cannot be test driven nor in any way evaluated for at least 2 - 3 years, yet +400K people get in line paying $1000+ for privilege of getting one. Are any of 'em planning to flip their 3's (as the Tesla X owner selling his X to Ford did) ?

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Orenwolf on May 07, 2016

This is why I reserved. To exercise some level of control over what is likely to be a very supply constrained car. I just got a new car, so I'm content to wait. I can walk away with my money back at any time, after all.

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- Porschespeed on May 07, 2016
  
  Bernie Madoff's clients believed exactly the same.
  
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- Mcs on May 07, 2016
  
  @porschespeed A thousand dollars isn't a lot of money to many people. Besides, unlike Madoff, Musk has more than enough in personal assets to cover all of the deposits. Personally, I'm waiting. The next generation of Lithium Ion batteries are in the pilot production phase now and are expected to reach mass production levels around 2020. While my 100+ mile Leaf is overkill for me most of the time, a hefty boost in range would eliminate any need for me to public charge. For me, that would lessen the value of the SuperCharger network and might make something like a Mission E and/or an electric 911 as an option. Right now, the 100-mile Leaf is doing well. Most days I'm only using a fraction of its range. Even on the longer trips, I'm only using half the range. At this moment, I'm working on the paperwork that "may" get me a prototype battery for testing in about a year. If that happens, the Leaf might remain my daily driver and workhorse for many more years.
  
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- Orenwolf on May 07, 2016
  
  @porschespeed Sure. It's a tiny sum though. That's the difference.
  
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- Porschespeed on May 07, 2016
  
  mcs, you truly believe that Musk has personal assets of $400MM+? If by that you mean current stock valuations, he's a ten billionaire. On paper. Which is completely reliant on sky-high speculative valuations placed on 2 companies that are both cash furnaces. Neither with a path to profitability. Maybe when it's time to liquidate Tesla he'll have SpaceX IPO'd and he can use that cash to pay you back. But there will be a whole lotta companies in front of you with their hand out for that cash. Like being an old GM stockholder, you will be the last to get anything. If you get anything at all. I agree a grand is rather disposable for most folks around here, and nobody will get hurt losing it. Your money, your choice. Glad to hear you like your Leaf, I've yet to drive one. There's a few I see on a regular basis - about as many as Teslas.
  
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- Sgeffe on May 08, 2016
  
  @mcs Is that prototype through Nissan, or another entity?
  
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- Sgeffe on May 08, 2016
  
  @porschespeed I've always been a cheap SOB, so I spend $1k reluctantly. (Even $100 gives me pause. $50 buys what $20 did fifteen years ago.)
  
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Philipwitak on May 07, 2016

i put a grand down when porsche first announced availability of the boxster nineteen years ago and ended up waiting nine months for the car. all things considered, the tesla wait seems very do-able to me.

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Shaker on May 08, 2016

Comparing Musk to Madoff is disingenuous at best - There are tangible benefits to the U.S. in what Musk is trying to do; I hope to see the Model 3 on the street ASAP, and that the $1k "gamble" of all those people pays off. Sadly, I'll be on a fixed income by the time the 3 is available, so my Volt will have to do.

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