Tesla Offering a New Mid-Range Battery Option for the Model 3

author: FutureCar Staff    

When Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the company's first mass-market electric car the Model 3, people were excited. At the time Musk said the fully-electric car would start at $35,000 before incentives. However, although the car is extremely popular and generated over 400,000 pre-orders, the elusive entry-level $35,000 Model 3 is still not available.

Instead, Tesla has been building the long-range and a more expensive performance version of the car first, which both come with considerably higher price tags.

Now the company, is diluting the car's options even further, by offering a mid-range version of the Model 3. The new version has an estimated range of 260 miles. The new mid-range Model 3 is priced at $45,000 before incentives. The mid-range Model 3 is listed on Tesla's website as a available option as of today.

The mid-range Model 3 has an advertised range of 260 miles, while the long-range and performance variant delivers up to 310 miles between charges. The base Model 3 which is not yet available, is being advertised with a range of 240 miles.

Tesla said earlier last month that the base version will go into production within the next 8 months, so the mid-range option suddenly appearing on Tesla's website surprised some people, especially those waiting 18 months or more for the $35,000 Model 3. What may further irk some reservation holders is that Tesla's website says deliveries of the mid-range Model 3 will begin in approximately 6-10 weeks.

It is possible that some reservation holders may opt for the mid-range version instead, since it will be available much sooner. It is not known if they will be allowed to jump the que and purchase the mid-range range Model 3 instead.

Tesla is counting on the lower priced Model 3 to achieve profitability. However, since production began in July 2017, Tesla has struggled to hit its production targets, leaving potential owners frustrated over longer delivery times.

The company aim to build 5,000-6,000 Model 3's each week, but so far is only averaging around 4,275 per week, according to Bloomberg's Tesla Tracker, which tracks production of the car.

Once again, people eagerly awaiting the base Model 3 for $35,000 will just have to wait a little longer. The question Elon Musk needs to answer is, "How much longer will they have to wait?"

FutureCar Staff