The speculation, hype and excitement in the days leading up to the March 31 unveiling of the Tesla Model 3 felt more like the launch of an Apple product than any new-car event. Enthusiastic Tesla fans at the company’s stores around the world camped overnight and waited in long lines to be some of the very first to put a $1,000 deposit down on the new $35,000 electric sedan. The lines stretched blocks long and more than 100 people deep in some cities. To add to that buzz, at one store in Los Angeles, CEO Elon Musk even showed up to thank fans and slap them high-fives for their devotion to the brand. And they are anything if not devoted: The car isn’t expected to arrive before late 2017, and none of the folks in these lines had seen as much as a photo of the car yet. By the end of the day, Tesla had amassed more than 115,000 in-store and online orders. Judging by what we saw last night, those who put down money on a Model 3 won’t be disappointed. When Musk strolled on stage at Tesla’s design center in Hawthorne, California, and finally pulled the wraps off the Model 3, the crowd of nearly 800 Tesla fans didn’t just cheer — they roared. The Model 3 is a handsome machine that looks every bit like a smaller version of the company’s Model S. Musk didn’t reveal many of the car’s specs or features, but he did… [Read full story]
Leave a Reply