The Tesla Model 3 is finally here:
With Autopilot hardware standard in all Model 3 cars for no extra cost, it's poised to be a huge contender in the electric car market. The Model 3 will start at $35,000, not including federal tax exemptions.
Tesla's Autopilot — the semi-autonomous driving mode Tesla launched last year in the Model S — comes with features like automatic braking, lane switching, and blind spot warnings. Tesla mentioned that Autopilot hardware comes standard in the Model 3, but CEO Elon Musk confirmed to Tech Insider that you'll have to pay extra to pay for Autopilot's "convenience features" like self-parking and lane switching. Autopilot's safety features will come standard in all Tesla cars.
The Model 3 can go 0 to 60 miles per hour in under six seconds and boasts a range of 215 miles. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said at the event that these are baseline specs that they hope to exceed.
All-wheel drive is standard in the Model 3 and it can fit five people.
There were more than 115,000 orders for the Model 3 in the last 24 hours — pretty impressive for a car that no one has seen before.
Musk added that the car will boast a five-star safety rating in every category. The front seats are positioned slightly forward to accommodate for more leg room in the back. The Model 3 can even fit a seven-foot-long surfboard, Musk added.
Supercharge is standard in the Model 3. It also comes with a back and rear truck.
Model 3 will begin production in late 2017, ramping Tesla vehicle production to 500,000 vehicles per year. It's slated to arrive by late 2017 or early 2018.
