After he arrived on stage driving a bright red Model 3, Elon Musk revealed new details about the car as part of a showy handover event at the Tesla factory in Fremont, Calif.
The “Standard Battery” version of the Model 3 will start at $35,000, have a range of 220 miles, a 0 to 60 mph speed of 5.6 seconds, and top speed of 130 mph.
The “Long Range Battery” version will start at $44,000, have a range of 310 miles, a 0 to 60 mph speed of 5.1 seconds, and a top speed of 140 mph.
Musk said the aim for the Model 3 was safety first and a “simple clean design.” He commented on the Model 3’s minimalistic interior, saying it’s in line with a future where cars will be increasingly autonomous.
“You won’t need to look at an instrument panel,” Musk said. “Watch a movie, talk to friends, go to sleep.”
Musk also noted that the company has a “major challenge” ahead to ramp production. Tesla plans to scale to an annual run rate of 500,000 vehicles by the end of 2018. “We’re going to be in production hell,” he said.
The first 30 Model 3s off the production line were handed over to owners at the event. Few additional details were shared around Model 3 features. Musk said previously that options will be few for the earliest orders, with paint color and wheel style being the most significant choices. It’s not clear when the configurator will be available online.
Photos: Tesla livestream