Tesla Model 3 production starts, #1 goes to Elon Musk – first pics and video of the Tesla for the masses

Tesla Model 3 production starts, #1 goes to Elon Musk – first pics and video of the Tesla for the masses

Click to enlarge

These are images of the first production Tesla Model 3, shared by its owner. No, the planned handover party for the new Tesla’s first 30 customers has not happened yet – the owner of car number one is Elon Musk himself.

The Tesla CEO tweeted “Production unit 1 of Model 3 is now built and going through final checkout. Pics soon” before posting these two images of the new entry Tesla to Twitter late on Saturday night, US time.

A video has also emerged from “behind the scenes” of the first black and white pic above, and it shows the Model 3’s glass roof and a glimpse of that spartan dashboard – which apart from the steering wheel, a large landscape screen and a full-width slot as air vents, is completely bare.

Tesla Model 3 production starts, #1 goes to Elon Musk – first pics and video of the Tesla for the masses

Click to enlarge

It’s not a given that every firstborn goes to Musk – he pointed out that the first to pay full price for the car gets in, and while he has the first Roadster and Model X, the first Model S is not his property. However, Tesla board member Ira Ehrenpreis, the first to put down deposit, gave the rights for car No.1 to Musk as a 46th birthday present.

Last week, Musk said that the Model 3 has passed all regulatory requirements for production two weeks ahead of schedule, and there will be a handover party for the first 30 customers late this month. Tesla plans to produce 100 Model 3 units in August, 1,500 in September and 20,000 in December, the visionary revealed.

The Tesla Model 3 order books have been opened for more than a year now, and the backlog should be rather big by now – days after Tesla started accepting orders, more than 300,000 people put down $1,000 deposits to have their name on the queue.

Tesla hasn’t updated the booking count, but Musk said last month that “there are more and more deposits every week.” But at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in June, Musk did say that one who puts in an order then probably wouldn’t get their Model 3 before the end of 2018.

The from $35k electric car has been spotted testing, and the Model 3’s vital stats are in the open – the range is around 346 km vs 400-539 km for the Model S, 0-96 km/h time is 5.6 seconds vs up to 2.3 seconds for the Model S P100D, and cargo capacity is smaller too (396 vs 850 litres). Model 3 owners will not benefit from unlimited Supercharging use – it’s pay-per-use for the entry model.

The Tesla Model S and the Model X SUV have great tech, but are costly vehicles. With the Model 3 – which is priced at BMW 3 Series levels in the US – Tesla is bringing its EV revolution to the masses. Will it take flight and shake-up the auto industry?

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Iriz rims?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 4
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Jul 10, 2017 at 11:38 am

    meanwhile in malaysia

    crazy prices for tesla

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • YB Kunta Kinte on Jul 10, 2017 at 11:53 am

    Amazing how Tesla, far younger than Proton, can have so much of innovation and demand for their cars. 300,000 orders in just a few days.

    Speaks volumes about the company. People are still waiting for Proton SUV, however, it is only coming out in 2 years time. Until then, still losing RM4 mil per day.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 28 Thumb down 6
    • And yet tethering on bankruptcy with no China to rescue.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
      • Susukotak on Jul 10, 2017 at 6:47 pm

        Cukur Cina mari..Cukur

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
      • stasta on Jul 11, 2017 at 4:55 pm

        who cares if they go bankrupt ? most importantly they must not ask for billions bailout from taxpayer money, unlike proton.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
        • lao yee on Jul 12, 2017 at 10:13 am

          It didn’t went bankrupt. John heard the info from mamak stall’s expert and share it like a pro

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • kiasu on Jul 10, 2017 at 12:42 pm

      This is the difference between a company created on government subsidiary and a company created by a visionary.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Heng Lee on Jul 10, 2017 at 1:01 pm

      “Musk did say that one who puts in an order then probably wouldn’t get their Model 3 before the end of 2018.”

      Now it’s 2017…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Can’t really compare. Elon made the company himself and of course is passionate about it. And this is very niche. And driven with innovations. He has dumped so much of his own money in this as well as SpaceX.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • boring same kunta false news on Jul 10, 2017 at 3:05 pm

      As above

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • kunta, learn geography please on Jul 10, 2017 at 4:13 pm

      Err you know how big is the US market? It is a BIG country!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • kzm (Member) on Jul 10, 2017 at 4:18 pm

      hahaha..u should read more bout Tesla.. last year alone they lost almost RM2b+

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 1
      • stasta on Jul 11, 2017 at 4:57 pm

        who cares if they lose money ? profit or not is their investors problem not your concern. but most importantly they must not ask for billions bailout from taxpayer money, unlike proton.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
      • lao yee on Jul 12, 2017 at 10:17 am

        Need to analyze the whole scenario instead of just based on single word ‘lost’. Example investing in Gigafactory would not gain profit in a year’s time. It’s a long term investment that can creates a great impact which not just benefit to the company itself, but also shaping the world.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • 3 mins video clips just show the side view only.. OMG..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Black Dog on Jul 10, 2017 at 3:59 pm

    Tesla 3 & BMW 3 are for the masses in US.

    For us here? Hang on to your Saga lah!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
    • Compare apple to apple on Jul 10, 2017 at 8:53 pm

      Since when bolehland is comparable to US?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • kzm (Member) on Jul 11, 2017 at 9:44 am

      in ur dream it is Ford, GM n Toyota for the masses in the US

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
      • stasta on Jul 12, 2017 at 10:30 am

        this car costs 35k usd. a white collar worker earning 5k monthly can easily buy this with cash. but in malaysia with 35k u can only afford a shitty basic proton or perodua.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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