15 ms·

Model 3 Unveiling [video]

406 points by bronz 11y ago

bronz 11y ago
I have waited 4 years for this moment. I can hardly believe it's finally happening. Cheers.
voltagex_ 11y ago
>Flash plugin missing >Get the latest Flash player to view this content A car from 2016, a video from 1996. Edit: https://www.ustream.tv/embed/22190759 https://www.ustream.tv/embed/22190759, original link had a "html5ui" parameter but it doesn't seem to help. Livestreamer with --default-stream mobile_720p gets 403.
- cwilkes 11y ago
  the ustream link is no longer available per the broadcaster's request
- cookiecaper 11y ago
  Yep. The player on the event screen (after you fill in information) has no timeshifting controls either. Stuck watching the whole thing with no fast-forward or rewind. Just tried to do so but got bored after 10 minutes of Model S commercials.
  - greglindahl 11y ago
    You're watching a few commercials in a loop before the event starts, and you want a fast-forward button?
    - cookiecaper 11y ago
      I may have misunderstood. I thought the event had already occurred and that this was a recording. I didn't check the event start time. The event hasn't started yet? I'm on the East Coast so I guess it just seems late. It would've been helpful if there was some visual indication that the event hadn't started yet, like a countdown.
fungi 11y ago
you can pad mash any name and email
- UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
  I did just on principle. So Tesla can enjoy their millions of undeliverables and bouncebacks. Good luck on those leads Tesla sales.
  - diskcat 11y ago
    nah they just want the number for marketing purposes >1 million tuned in to watch the unveiling and we got this list of emails to prove it >dick@dick.penis
    - therein 11y ago
      Wow, Donuts Domains is making everything a TLD nowadays.
      - fungi 11y ago
        1. get drunk 2. http://dumb.domains/ http://dumb.domains/ 3. wake up with stupid domains
cr__ 11y ago
Oh, good, "unveil" is a noun now, too.
- bronz 11y ago
  Actually the title was originally "Model3 Unveil Live-stream [video]" but it mysteriously changed to what it is now. I'm not complaining though.
  - dang 11y ago
    We changed it to the page title, which is what the HN guidelines ask you to use in the first place, unless it is misleading or linkbait.
    - bronz 11y ago
      Thank you for simply correcting it instead of just deleting it. I didn't mean to do that.
      - dang 11y ago
        You're most welcome, but just so you know, we'd never delete a story for that reason. That would be an awful lot of deletion :)
- dang 11y ago
  Since its nounage was baity enough to elicit off-topic snark, I guess we'll go for the gerund.
mpg33 11y ago
Starts at 830PT correct?
- bronz 11y ago
  Yes.
- voltagex_ 11y ago
  If they're on time. That's 0330 UTC, for anyone who wants to convert it.
  - bronz 11y ago
    This is actually a very good point because these events have started late more than once.
- escherize 11y ago
  I found out you can get a countdown timer if you google: countdown to 8:30pm PST or use this link: https://www.google.com.au/?q=countdown+to+8%3A15pm+PST#q=countdown+to+8:30pm+PST https://www.google.com.au/?q=countdown+to+8%3A15pm+PST#q=cou...
mattbeckman 11y ago
Just reserved mine. Of course, I double checked the terms to make sure it was refundable, but I'm ready for it to change the game.
- alvern 11y ago
  Over 115k reservations in 24hours! This is going to put serious pressure on other auto makers to step up their game.
  - rokhayakebe 11y ago
    More like game over for some auto makers. You have to think for $35,000 would most people rather get a Tesla, a BMW, a Lexus, a Mercedes, or an Audi? Tesla is going to grab many of these guys customers. I for one, can't wait for my lease to be over.
    - beamatronic 11y ago
      The last time I looked at a reasonably loaded Honda Odyssey it was over $40k. $35k is not really a high end price point any longer. Also for those who care about such things, $35k buys you more social status with a Tesla than with one of those other ICE cars.
    - csours 11y ago
      It will take a while. BMW, Mercedes and Audi each sell 1.5MM a year [1] Tesla have targeted 500k vehicles a year, which would be a huge stretch from their current 70k a year. 1. http://www.autonews.com/article/20140113/COPY01/301139914/bmw-retains-global-luxury-sales-crown-for-ninth-straight-year http://www.autonews.com/article/20140113/COPY01/301139914/bm...
      - dingo_bat 11y ago
        >sell 1.5MM a year Is MM a typo or a legit way to write million? I decided to find out and here's a reddit thread explaining: https://www.reddit.com/r/answers/comments/2sd9bm/why_do_people_abbreviate_million_as_mm/ https://www.reddit.com/r/answers/comments/2sd9bm/why_do_peop...
salimmadjd 11y ago
A gated experience to watch the unveil video? Is Tesla desperate for leads and sales? This tells me Tesla is hurting for numbers or they're worried about GM Bolt and others. So they want to spam the interested parties or keep them from committing to other brands for the next year or so until Model 3 is available. BTW, Bolt has already been unveiled [0] And some manufacturing has already started [1] [0] http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/01/chevrolets-bolt-is-an-electric-vehicle-for-the-masses-and-weve-driven-it/ http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/01/chevrolets-bolt-is-an-el... [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqJ7Ob9I5eQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqJ7Ob9I5eQ
- bronz 11y ago
  Or they could just be collecting marketing data.
- dcgoss 11y ago
  You can fill in false data if you like, they aren't checking.
- going_to_800 11y ago
  Bolt? That's a car for girls(at least by design). Collecting emails is a good marketing tactic and they won't load the servers with everyone.
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
  - UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
    > Bolt? That's a car for girls(at least by design). I totally get that you don't like the Bolt's design, and that's perfectly fine. But, seriously, it is 2016 can we put the "that is for girls" "that is for guys" nonsense to bed? It is sexist against both genders. The whole implication is that "girly = bad" which is sexist, and then you have guys who are going to be emasculated if they enjoy a "girly" thing which is also sexist. Essentially it victimizes everyone. Let's leave that phase in the past along with gendered toy isles and pink/blue.
bane 11y ago
re: the commercial barrage, How the hell much to they pay postal carriers in Rural Minnesota? I'm definitely in the wrong business and live in the wrong place.
- shirro 11y ago
  Not sure if the commercials are geo-targetted but if you get the Australian guy his name is Simon Hackett. He founded an Internet business here. An interesting thing is Hackett is executive chairman of a company called Redflow which claims its Zinc Bromine home storage solution is better than Li-ion ones like Tesla Powerwall (though it seems to be a fair bit more expensive).
  - voltagex_ 11y ago
    I want to see this ad - is it on UStream?
- tomkinstinch 11y ago
  I was curious too, but it looks like the USPS reimbursement rates [1] for rural personal vehicles are decent, and are no doubt geared toward gas cars that have much higher operating and maintenance costs. Depending on how far a mail carrier drives, it could plausibly cover the cost of the Model S. Not a bad gig. In the video, the postal carrier mentions the Tesla being better than spending $30 on gas per day. At $2.50/gallon, that's 12 gallons of gas. Assuming 20mpg (all of the stop and go), that's about 250 miles per day, or ~5000 miles per month assuming five-day delivery. 1. https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22340/html/info_003.htm https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22340/html/inf...
  - mikeash 11y ago
    73.5 cents per mile, if he's doing 250 miles per day then that's about $180/day reimbursed, and about $10 for electricity. If he does this six days a week, that's something like $4,000/month just in mileage reimbursement. That'll cover the monthly payment on any Model S you care to configure, at least twice. You'll wear the car out a lot faster, but even so, sounds like a pretty good gig.
dcgoss 11y ago
Buckle your seatbelts!
NamTaf 11y ago
Hey wow it's Simon Hackett [1]. I wouldn't be surprised if he did this for free - he's always been a big supporter. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Hackett https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Hackett
- shirro 11y ago
  He is a huge fan. He had a Roadster as well. Fun fact is he appears to be heavily involved in a company aiming to compete with Tesla's Powerwall: http://redflow.com/about-us/board-management/ http://redflow.com/about-us/board-management/
  - voltagex_ 11y ago
    Aha! He was being cagey about the name of this company so they must be getting closer. He lost a lot of respect after being on the NBN board but this might go a long way to restoring it.
manav 11y ago
EDIT: Found a live stream on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FLSxJjdnLU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FLSxJjdnLU Also, I made a reservation at the Fremont factory today. Took around 15 mins including line, but I went in around 10:30-11am. I'd estimate there were around 600 people before me in the morning. Fairly certain they will hit 100k before the stream starts.
- emehrkay 11y ago
  Ha. A youtube live stream of a periscope session. What a time
  - emehrkay 11y ago
    Looks like a Chrysler 200 http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/autodata/images/?IMG=CAC50CRC211D01300.JPG&width=680 http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/autodata/images/?IMG=CAC50CRC211D013...
    - deleted 11y ago
      [deleted]
- dlubarov 11y ago
  That's a really fast line! I went to the Burlingame shop at 8:30am (they open at 10am) and it was almost noon when I finished.
  - rconti 11y ago
    Stanford, 9am. Out by 11:10.
- giarc 11y ago
  This youtube stream was much more reliable for me.
- timdorr 11y ago
  He announced 115,000 reservations before the stream began. That's $115m spent on a product no one had seen. Crazy.
ttam 11y ago
a line: https://twitter.com/TeslaMotors/status/715632500303761408 https://twitter.com/TeslaMotors/status/715632500303761408 holy shit comes to mind
- jtokoph 11y ago
  You would think Tesla was giving away cars with that kind of line.
ch8230 11y ago
They have a periscope link open https://www.periscope.tv/TeslaMotors/1ynJOXkmWdZxR https://www.periscope.tv/TeslaMotors/1ynJOXkmWdZxR
- ch8230 11y ago
  EDIT: The link was only a preview. It links back to their site now. Kinda defeats the purpose of using Periscope.
jsprogrammer 11y ago
Just a sign up form? For a hamburger menu icon?
- prawn 11y ago
  For a live stream that was yet to start.
valine 11y ago
> If you buy a conventional car, your interaction with the people who made it has ended. With Tesla, that interaction has only just begun. There's something unnerving about this. Your car has access to so much information about you. Where you go, where you work, what stores you like to shop at, and what restaurants you like. To me, a car is a tool. When I purchase a car, I'm purchasing The engine, the wheels, and the right to use the software running behind the scenes. I couldn't care less about forging a one sided, Orwellian relationship with a large company. Even if that company is freakishly awesome.
- ttam 11y ago
  I assume you're not using a smartphone?
- throwawaytenmil 11y ago
  Welp, enjoy using your phone buddy!
  - Cthulhu_ 11y ago
    I'm not your buddy, friend!
- toomuchtodo 11y ago
  Different strokes. Tesla can have my $50K-100K. I'm buying everything you're worried about.
  - supercoder 11y ago
    It's ugly and bad value. There will be better options in 2 years.
    - toomuchtodo 11y ago
      I have money to spend on things I don't have to wait for.
- 11y ago
usaphp 11y ago
can't stand those yelling people in behind...I wish I can turn on subtitles and turn off the volume
aresant 11y ago
I love Tesla the company and respect the hell out of Elon. But his presentation style is hard to watch - he is literally stammering through what feels like a dry script. I've never seen him live before is this par for the course or nerves? Edit - wow that is a better looking car than I expected. You can be as awkward serving as you like if that's the main course!
- usaphp 11y ago
  It looks like he always talks like that, at least from other videos I've seen with him
- darylteo 11y ago
  I think the crowd is more unnerving than Elon's presentation style... really cringy whoops and whistles and "YES!".
  - tempestn 11y ago
    They must've had an open bar while people were waiting for the presentation to start or something. The crowd is ridiculous.
    - agildehaus 11y ago
      Those people are drunk on themselves, no need for an open bar.
- manav 11y ago
  He's usually like that. It kind of of makes you appreciate the Steve Jobs product unveils a bit more. Can't remember the last "product" that was hyped this much.
- DarkTree 11y ago
  That's actually just the way he talks according to every interview/presentation/video I've seen of him, albeit maybe with some added nerves.
- 11y ago
lai 11y ago
Wow, is that Transformers music?
- barbs 11y ago
  It felt a bit more "IronMan-esque" to me, personally :)
Mikeb85 11y ago
Pretty smart looking car. Doesn't ape the Model S' look too much, clearly looks a little more compact, and the roofline makes it look both roomy and a little space-agey. From the front it almost has a Porsche Panamera look going on... Nice looking car. I wish Tesla good luck, though I don't think they'll need it.
- rokhayakebe 11y ago
  Yeah, I was thinking Panamera.
- dgritsko 11y ago
  They announced during the livestream that they already have 115k preorders. Pretty crazy considering that they were all made site-unseen (I guess barring Tesla employees that placed their preorder and knew what the car looked like).
  - Mikeb85 11y ago
    True. But based on previous models which are all pretty smart-looking, I'd say it was a safe enough bet that this model would be as well. It's funny too, I never thought about the price point they're actually selling it for. I can afford one, and might just get one for my wife (my car is still new-ish, and efficient enough).
- TickleSteve 11y ago
  The panamera is quite possibly the most ugly and awkward looking luxury car out there... (even Porsches CEO admits it! http://jalopnik.com/even-porsches-ceo-admits-the-panamera-is-kind-of-fugly-1645633158 http://jalopnik.com/even-porsches-ceo-admits-the-panamera-is...) This, on the other hand is genuinely good looking.
  - rconti 11y ago
    The panamera is a very awkward car, I agree. But I get where the parent is coming from. I expected the 3 to look like a scaled down S, and a Tesla employee friend said to expect something between an S and an X (yes, he had seen it.. and no, comparison to the X is not a compliment). I was pleasantly surprised to see the video footage of it, though I don't think it translates well to the stills/screen grabs we've seen. The headlights-above-the-beltline look reminds me of the Roadster and the Panamera and maybe a touch like the Dodge Razor concept. it's very much not an S, while somehow being attractive in many of the ways the S is (and ugly in none of the ways that the X is). Overall I'm quite pleased with the looks.
deleted 11y ago
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lai 11y ago
Wow it looks really nice. The front is completely sealed.
- Ingon 11y ago
  Yeah, I understand that's a bold "see, I'm electric" statement, but still feels a bit awkward.
  - giarc 11y ago
    Might have been the low angle shot that made it look weird. Before that, I didn't even notice the nose.
  - tokipin 11y ago
    Most cars have grills because they need the ventilation to cool the engine. I think they're mostly something we've gotten used to. When electric cars become more common those gas car grills will probably start looking clunky.
  - cjhopman 11y ago
    I actually think the model 3 looks fine. I've seen several model x driving around and their nose is really hideous. The model s has just like a black section that looks normal and fine. The model 3 has done completely away with the black look and it looks fine. The model x just sort of is somewhere in the middle and it looks really, really awkward.
  - Cthulhu_ 11y ago
    Only because you're used to a grill(e?); the Tesla doesn't need it, and if they added one for aesthetic purposes, it'd just be bad for aerodynamics and harder to clean.
  - dingaling 11y ago
    Reminiscent of the Aston Martin blank-plate look from the 1980s: https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/s320x320/e15/11376559_444634672382291_1998483669_n.jpg https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/s...
dynofuz 11y ago
over 100000 orders... so they just made $100M in less than a day in just reservations. nice.
- Cthulhu_ 11y ago
  Well, they're just reservations and they can't exactly spend the money, since they'd have to repay it. Also it's 10M, not 100.
  - hmate9 11y ago
    100,000 * $1,000 = $100,000,000
  - codeulike 11y ago
    They can totally spend the money.
Fuzzwah 11y ago
I can see a good opportunity to start designing an after market replacement nose..... Looks a little uninspired, where as the rest of the design looks amazing.
deleted 11y ago
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S_A_P 11y ago
Looks nice. I'm not completely sold on the nose but have no complaints about the rest. I am happy to see 115k+ preorders. Congrats Tesla!
impish19 11y ago
I was hoping he was referring to something other than the snacks that were served to the people camping overnight outside stores to order the Model 3 with this tweet: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715566236822671360 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715566236822671360 "Incredibly inspired by the interest in Model 3. You won't be disappointed. Also, small token of appreciation coming for those who lined up."
- giarc 11y ago
  I saw in a forum that a Tesla staff member said it would be mailed out to the in store pre-orders.
- rconti 11y ago
  I assume it's a t-shirt or keychain or something. I was "in line" (1h before store opened, 1h to get to the front) so I guess we'll see.
Yabood 11y ago
That is a very good looking 35K car! Job well done.
usaphp 11y ago
Wow, I don't really know how bmw or mercedes are going to compete with model 3. Tesla does not look worse than 3 series and C class, is faster and is almost free to run. And the base bmw 3 series starts at $33,200 and it is almost empty inside...It will be an interesting couple years for auto industry for sure.
- kec 11y ago
  The same way they're currently competing with the model S at the mid to high end: they provide a more luxurious experience at the same price point.
  - rsync 11y ago
    "they provide a more luxurious experience at the same price point." A much, much, much more luxurious experience. The highest end, max-optioned Model S you can buy does not have as nice an interior as a decent 3 series or C class mercedes. It doesn't even beat out their low end. Never mind the cars in its price range (A8/S class/7series). They're not even remotely comparable in terms of interior or luxury appointment. I find it odd, actually ... of all the things you have to do to make a car, sourcing some decent highly adjustable seats and some nice leather appointments, etc., has to be the easiest. Further, you can just add a "luxury package" and option it at $9950 and call it a day ... and lots of people would buy it.
    - gozur88 11y ago
      I suspect it's at least partially a marketing decision. When a car interior gets too plush people start to think about grandpa's Cadillac.
      - superuser2 11y ago
        There is a pretty big difference between the German luxury aesthetic and the Detroit luxury aesthetic. It's clear why they're not imitating Cadillac, but why not take some cues from Audi or BMW?
- 11y ago
suprgeek 11y ago
Very clean looks also: 215 Miles Range with 0-60 in 6secs, Seats 5 will have autodrive tech all for $35,000 Deliveries begin end of 2017 (Hopefully) This is truly a mass market full electric car. We may be seeing something on the lines of the iPhone - a category busting product.
- dgritsko 11y ago
  Pretty solid specs for the base model. I'm very interested to see how much those numbers go up (or down, in the case of 0-60) as the options are revealed.
  - kerryfalk 11y ago
    The P85D is a massive step from a base Model S in terms of performance. It has super car levels of performance. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Model 3 with something like a P65D besting M3/C63 performance numbers.
- rsync 11y ago
  "with 0-60 in 6secs" This part confuses me. The very fast 0-60 times that you see in electric cars are a function not of their massive engines or super tuned turbos, but of their instantaneous torque (as they are electric). Given that this is an electric car, and that its size and weight are commensurable to the (presumably) smaller electric motor, I would expect it to have similar 0-60 times. I just assumed that whenever this car was released it would have <4 second times ... why wouldn't it ?
  - mikeash 11y ago
    Because you can make more money by charging extra for performance. For an extreme example, the Model S P90D has a $10,000 Ludicrous Mode option which just flips a software switch.
    - schwarrrtz 11y ago
      No, that upgrade involves replacing the main pack contactor and fuse so they can handle the higher current draw.
bronz 11y ago
Wow. The interior is absolutely jaw dropping. It looks so fucking good.
mehrdada 11y ago
He mentioned it has autopilot hardware standard (like the current Model S), which makes me suspect you have to pay a few thousand dollars more to unlock it in software.
- mikeash 11y ago
  He said autopilot safety features will be standard, which means the convenience features (lane keeping, automatic parking, etc.) will cost extra. Just like the S and X.
  - rconti 11y ago
    Right to both points -- that's how I read it too. You could call it "crippleware", though autopilot hardware (albeit on a 2018 car, though on the other hand in 35k of 2018 dollars) ain't exactly cheap. It's probably more economical for Tesla to build the cars with the same h/w and then upcharge for the s/w. And it's nice to have the opportunity to do a software update for it if you later want it, even though I know some don't like the crippleware "feel". And yes, I also heard them saying the safety stuff will be standard. Again, makes sense. Nobody wants the bad PR of installing safety hardware, but some poor family got killed by their Unsafe Tesla Car (TM) because of a software feature that was disabled by Evilon Musk.
jonkiddy 11y ago
115k reservations in 24 hours. $115m. That is an excellent first day. Assuming there aren't many cancelations, ~$4B+ total by 4Q 2016. Very nice. However, I don't think the hype matched the presentation.
- mikeyouse 11y ago
  Q42018... Sales won't start until the end of 2017 (if things stay on schedule) and production will likely ramp up, I'd be surprised if they sell 100k Model 3s in the first year. Still, the average revenue to Tesla will probably be on the higher end, $45-$50k since they'll likely prioritize the performance versions as they've done for the S and the X so far, so 100k x $45k still gets you to $4.5B.
shekyboy 11y ago
Felt the presentation ended half way. Wanted him to show the inside of the car and all the features. Caught the glimpse the new horizontal screen, but no details on that in the presentation or on the side.... Wonder if they are not ready with all those yet. Or maybe I am used to Apple keynotes
- c-slice 11y ago
  The presentation definitely felt short. I wanted to understand more of the specifications, get to know the car a little bit. Especially if 115K people just pre-ordered something they know so little about.
- UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
  I was surprised too. They left SO many questions completely unanswered. At minimum I thought they'd give us an internal tour, show someone sitting in it, even if it was via cheezy video. Hopefully some vehicle reviewers will test drive it and we'll learn more going forward. Or when Tesla's site comes online.
  - forgetsusername 11y ago
    >I was surprised too. I'm not. The car is not ready for prime-time, but there's pressure on Tesla, the company, to show they're "on track".
- shekyboy 11y ago
  Here is the periscope feed of a drive. You can see the horizontal screen better https://www.periscope.tv/w/1dRKZyRkpgNxB https://www.periscope.tv/w/1dRKZyRkpgNxB
  - pritambaral 11y ago
    The link does not let me view it now. Such a video should not be a live-only stream.
    - 11y ago
Illniyar 11y ago
Can someone explain to me what tesla 3 is? Why all the hype?
- DarkTree 11y ago
  Elon Musk has been working to build not only the best electric vehicle, but the best vehicle in the world. The Tesla Model S was that vehicle in many ways, though it came at a high price point. Musk's first goal was to build this luxury Model S in order to build up a reputation, research EV technology, perfect the production line, acquire funding and gain a loyal following. However, this was just a preliminary step necessary to achieve his primary goal of bringing a mass-market electric vehicle into the world. This is where the Model 3 comes into play. It is an affordable, EV car built by Tesla for the general public. Elon and many people hope that bringing a mass-market, performance EV to the world will enact a shift away from combustion engine cars and therefore help dampen the damage humans are causing to the environment.
oh_sigh 11y ago
Who are these people that go to these events and do the high pitch "woo"ing? Seriously stop.
- UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
  I think part of the issue was that the audio was poorly mixed. This type of stuff happens at all kinds of events, but they typically isolate audio from the speaker only via lapel mic. You always mix in SOME crowd noise otherwise they don't seem to cheer. But it is a pretty dynamic operation with an operator raising the gain and lowering it as needed to get the desired effect. In this case the crowd noise was as loud as the speaker and as a result they seemed to shout over him.
Animats 11y ago
OK, $35K, 115,000 pre-orders, delivery early 2018. (Yeah, he said "next year", and then the projection said "late next year", and then he waffled, so 2018 is realistic.) Tesla's current production rate is about 70,000 units a year. Yes, the NUMMI plant once produced 500K vehicles a year on that site, but that just means Tesla has lots of empty building shell into which they can expand. The real problem is profitability. Bloomberg is skeptical.[1] Tesla isn't profitable, and they have a high price point now. Cutting the price means they have to produce at a far lower cost while expanding factory capacity. That will be very tough. Jason Wheeler, Tesla's CFO, is going to have to come up with some creative financial strategies. But with near-zero interest rates, and lots of pre-orders, they can probably borrow heavily for plant at very low cost. [1] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-03-31/tesla-doubles-down-with-the-model-3 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-03-31/tesla-double...
- rconti 11y ago
  For quite some time, they've said "late 2017" which means 2 or 3 VIPs.. or, at best, a few low-VIN# Roadster/Model S owners, which means deliveries won't even BEGIN ramping until this time 2018 ... which means, given Tesla's previous model delays, what, another year on top of that? We put money down today, but as non-VIPs, the earliest possible theoretical delivery is 2 years from today, and more realistically it's like 3 years. But the "late 2017" number has been consistent. That doesn't mean you should believe they'll hit it, just that it's been very consistent for some time now.
- andersen1488 11y ago
  >But with near-zero interest rates, and lots of pre-orders, they can probably borrow heavily for plant at very low cost. This is essentially the entire reason Tesla even exists. Nearly a decade of near zero interest rates have resulted in massive amounts of capital are available to be thrown at huge projects like this.
  - dexterdog 11y ago
    Don't forget green subsidies
gameshot911 11y ago
Okay, I'll say it. I don't like the hatchback-esque look. I would have much preferred a normal sedan design. Yes the car is amazing in a ton of other ways, and yes the look will probably grow on me over time, but I don't want to "learn to love it". I want to innately find it beautiful at first glance. And my initial, instinctual reaction to the unveil was...a feeling of slight letdown.
- UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
  Hatchbacks give you more headroom than sedans. So if they're primarily concerned with its back seat roominess then going hatchback makes a lot of sense. Hatchbacks are simply more practical vehicles unfortunately. They don't even have that much worse MPG than a sedan, and they give you a little more space to work with. It is a pragmatic choice.
  - m_mueller 11y ago
    Hatchbacks are also hugely popular in Europe. Maybe it will grow on Americans as well - something like the Model 3 could be watershed car that creates a new design fashion.
- kbenson 11y ago
  To keep size (and thus weight) down, but still seat 5, I'm not sure you have a lot of choice. That said, it might be possible they'll release a coupe variant, or a sporty wagon variant. I wouldn't mind if it was more wagon-esque, and that's probably the easier of the options as it wouldn't require reconfiguring rear seat size at all.
- rconti 11y ago
  I don't see why anybody likes dull sedans. They all look like Camrys to me. Even some of the best-looking cars that LOOK like sedans (like the Model S and Mazda6) were liftback/hatchback designs. I'm on car number 7 now and hope to never own a sedan in my life. Wagon/hatchback for life.
- gameshot911 11y ago
manav 11y ago
I'm actually going to reduce my reservation to one car now. Pretty disappointed at the design, it looks like a Prius. For the price point, I would obviously still buy one... but the hatchback style is not as appealing for a mid level luxury car that may compete with a MB C-class or BMW 3-series. They could have made it look like an Audi A4 sedan, with an available hatchback, but I think that would cannibalize Model S sales to some extent. Tesla also announced they are going to increase Model S prices starting this month. This could be part of their strategy to increase Model S sales now, before they release revisions in the future. What's also interesting is that Tesla cleared all CPO inventory at the beginning of the year. On their Pre-Owned site, they had used Model S going for less than 50k. They cleared it all out early in the year and now only offer recent models as inventory for lease/purchase.
- greglindahl 11y ago
  You can't make a car with low drag without it being a hatchback. And low drag is key to reasonable battery size.
  - reportingsjr 11y ago
    Yep, the design is called a K-tail. I've really started getting used to it and don't mind it at all any more.
  - manav 11y ago
    True. Some design elements still seem strange to me, but perhaps it was optimized for efficiency?. There is no front grille for instance. While there is no need for one on an electric car, the Tesla still has an indent for one.
    - Corrado 11y ago
      I think part of the front end design was shaped by laws requiring a human safe zone in the front of the car. My understanding is that every car on the road must not push a human under the car but up and over the hood. Maybe that's why the front end has that indent.
jvm 11y ago
> Both cars will start at $30,000 or less after federal tax credits of $7,500 are applied. And both go at least 200 miles on a fully charged battery. The Bolt is a five-passenger hatchback that boasts cargo space and more legroom for rear passengers—front-seat backs are an inch thinner than in most cars. Looks almost identical specs-wise to Chevy Bolt, which will be available at the end of 2016 rather than 2017. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-31/tesla-s-newest-electric-enemy-chevy http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-31/tesla-s-ne...
- mikeash 11y ago
  The Tesla is a bit cheaper. I don't think the Bolt has any Autopilot-like options. Far more importantly, the Bolt has no real fast charging infrastructure, either existing or planned. If you like to drive to places more than 200 miles away, there's still only one company with an EV that can reasonably do that.
  - 11402101 11y ago
    Supercharging network should be irrelevant in my mind. If you need to drive more than 200 miles away, you need ICE. Assuming you could get a 100% full charge in 30 minutes at a supercharger, and 210 miles of range at 60mph, you are driving 3.5 hours and standing around for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, ICE can get you 400 miles, or 6.5 hours of driving at 60mph, on a 15 minute gas fill up. Electrics are great for a lot of reasons, but long road trips in a Model 3 is going to be a lot of time staring at clouds.
    - bdunn 11y ago
      I own a Model S and have clocked 23k miles on it over the last year, most of which on long roadtrips. I love it. The car mostly drives itself between superchargers, and the SCs are usually next to coffee shops or restaurants. I don't mind getting up and stretching / having a drink every few hours. But if minimizing recharging/refueling is your main priority, yeah, you can't beat ICE.
      - 11y ago
fumar 11y ago
It's exciting to see the model 3 take more hatchback proportions. I hope it brings the hatch functionality to a more mainstream US audience. It also solidifies the global nature of Tesla. Hatchbacks and wagons are commonplace in Europe – oftentimes preferred over an SUV or sedan.
dragontamer 11y ago
Seats five is interesting... but I'm not quite seeing the perspective. Its hard to tell the size difference. From my eyes, it looks like its roughly the size of a Scion, maybe only a little bit larger than a Honda Fit. Which seats 5... technically... but its not too comfortable. Its more of a 4-seater with a 5th seat that may be used if you care about it.
- robmcm 11y ago
  Because of the lack of combustion engine, gear box and drive train the interior of the Model S is huge compared to other similar sized conventional cars. I imagine the model 3 has the same benefits and the interior is a lot larger than it looks.
shekyboy 11y ago
115k in pre-orders totaling to $4B So today was their Kickstarter pitch :-)
ph0rque 11y ago
"Thanks for tuning in to the Model 3 unveil Part 1! Part 2 is super next level, but that's for later…" https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715765746429784064 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715765746429784064
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
agumonkey 11y ago
I may be that paranoid, but the glass roof feels as thrilling as scary. What happens if something drops on it ? if the car ends up tumbling ? the roll cage is probably as sturdy as anything Tesla did before but that seems like a too large open spot ..
- _ph_ 11y ago
  It should be multi-layer safety glass like the front window. Those are very tough as they keep shape even when shattered.
- Cthulhu_ 11y ago
  It'd probably just shatter; should be laminated glass so it wouldn't explode into your eyes much. Regular cars are just as scary when you think about it, imagine the roof collapsing on top of you.
  - agumonkey 11y ago
    Well, two flavor of hell. Metal doesn't fracture. So it shields you for a while, but it it can also hold you hostage.
    - arprocter 11y ago
      I rolled a car with a sunroof once - luckily the shade was closed so I didn't have to crawl over too much broken glass. The door windows also disappeared, but the front screen stayed together
slg 11y ago
Some of the press pics and video from inside the car is really interesting. There is no instrument panel and the only screen is the center tablet. That would seem to be somewhat inconvenient to view things like speed. I wonder if that is hinting at a future with expanded autopilot were the driver can pay less attention to the instruments. [1] - https://twitter.com/autonews_west/status/715761107508584448 https://twitter.com/autonews_west/status/715761107508584448 [2] - https://twitter.com/autonews_west/status/715767638916472833 https://twitter.com/autonews_west/status/715767638916472833
- quietplatypus 11y ago
  Obviously you're expectd to be a hardcore motorsport enthusiast who has a honed instinct for the current kph :p
- Cthulhu_ 11y ago
  Usually you'd drive on cruise control, I reckon. Wouldn't be surprised if Tesla has or adds a semi-auto cruise control that either matches speed with other traffic, or with the speed limits on that stretch of road already.
  - vsl 11y ago
    It has.
- jonshariat 11y ago
  As a UI designer this is really interesting. How do drivers view speed? I need a demo video!
  - dabeeeenster 11y ago
    I think the car has to have a HUD...surely...
    - mikeash 11y ago
      I don't think it needs one. Speed is displayed on the driver's side of the center screen. There are lots of cars out there already with the instrument cluster in the center of the dashboard rather than behind the steering wheel, such as the Prius.
Illniyar 11y ago
Since the symbol looks like an E, it replaces the E in Tesla and the previous models were named S and X. Shouldn't this really be the model E and not 3?
- rattray 11y ago
  Yes, that was the company's hope until Ford stopped them: http://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2014/06/04/elon-musk-ford-is-killing-sex/#1c5d5c7f7db5 http://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2014/06/04/elon-mus...
- moonka 11y ago
  From what I've heard, Ford has the rights to Model E, so they changed it to 3.
llomlup 11y ago
Something isn't right there. The cockpit doesn't seem to be finished. Compared to Model S and Model X cockpits, this one isn't on par. Where are screens behind the wheel, what about the middle console, AC, wheel controls? http://cdn2.autoexpress.co.uk/sites/autoexpressuk/files/styles/gallery_adv/public/2016/04/20160331_213033.jpg?itok=a-gRwFAW http://cdn2.autoexpress.co.uk/sites/autoexpressuk/files/styl..., seriously?
- Corrado 11y ago
  I agree, to a point. The interior does look a bit spartan, however is this just a pre-release model? Will the final car look exactly like this? I can see certain things being tweaked over the next year and the dash is one of them.
  - ohitsdom 11y ago
    Musk said as much: "You will see the car very clearly, but some important elements will be added and some will evolve." https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715309739752747009 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715309739752747009
- robmcm 11y ago
  I suspect it could have a HUD (Head up display) to show the driver basic information (speed, navigation etc). Everything else can be on the center console. Look at the citroen cactus dashboard and make it more Tesla-like http://images.autowereld.com/high/78673-image.jpg http://images.autowereld.com/high/78673-image.jpg
rayalez 11y ago
Video on youtube(high quality): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4VGQPk2Dl8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4VGQPk2Dl8
- pepijndevos 11y ago
  Thanks. Is it me or is the camera tilted CCW a bit?
helicon 11y ago
Yesterday Elon Musk tweeted this[1]: "Tomorrow is Part 1 of the Model 3 unveil. Part 2, which takes things to another level, will be closer to production. " And back in January he tweeted this[2]: "In ~2 years, summon should work anywhere connected by land & not blocked by borders, eg you're in LA and the car is in NY" Do you think he is saying the Model 3 will be fully autonomous? [1] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715307847890903041 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715307847890903041 [2] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/686279251293777920 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/686279251293777920
- scoot 11y ago
  It sounds like it, but that would be on hell of a battery range if that's true.
  - spurgu 11y ago
    It will probably be able to drive itself to a charging station. :)
    - illumin8 11y ago
      They've written about this on their blog: https://www.teslamotors.com/node/14147?no_cache=1459519432 https://www.teslamotors.com/node/14147?no_cache=1459519432 The eventual goal is to have the car be able to open your garage door, exit, close your garage door, then drive to your location, stopping to charge itself at supercharger stations along the way. The NYC to LA tweet implies the car would need fully autonomous driving capabilities to do so.
  - randomname2 11y ago
    Maybe it could charge itself at charging stations?
  - helicon 11y ago
    I don't mean the range so much as it sounds like he could be hinting that the car will be capable of being fully autonomous. Considering the price point for the entry level version is ~35k, could we be about to see the first mass market self driving car?
m-i-l 11y ago
There's a link to a replay of the launch event on the Tesla Model 3 product page at https://www.teslamotors.com/model3 https://www.teslamotors.com/model3 (the link is to https://vimeo.com/161138986 https://vimeo.com/161138986 ).
ck2 11y ago
As long as there is a metal roof option in a couple decades when I can finally afford to buy one third-hand used. Glass roof anywhere in the southwestern or southeastern usa is the worst idea I've ever seen. Not only the sun but stuff constantly being thrown on or at it on the highways. Never had a windshield last more than a decade without a crack, imagine what it costs to replace a piece of glass the size of a car.
- illumin8 11y ago
  I've never had a rear window or sunroof get a rock chip on the highway before, have you?
node-bayarea 11y ago
Wrote: Tesla Model 3 = Massive Traffic Jams + Parking Problems! Am I wrong? https://medium.com/@rajaraodv/tesla-model-3-massive-traffic-jams-parking-problems-269b120657e9#.5ylvp0t4r https://medium.com/@rajaraodv/tesla-model-3-massive-traffic-...
viperscape 11y ago
The low price especially concerns me since that means they're targeting high volume sales. A great question is what will become of the millions of batteries 5, 10, 15 years from now. https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/mythbusters-part-3-recycling-our-non-toxic-battery-packs https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/mythbusters-part-3-recyclin... Goes in to some detail but basically states, we have some good ideas, but our fallback is the land fill since these batteries etc are considered non toxic. Still: sourcing, building, recycling, and disposing of these batteries seems like a giant problem that is hard to believe is environmentally sound

406 points by bronz 11y ago

bronz 11y ago

I have waited 4 years for this moment. I can hardly believe it's finally happening. Cheers.

>Flash plugin missing >Get the latest Flash player to view this content A car from 2016, a video from 1996. Edit: https://www.ustream.tv/embed/22190759 https://www.ustream.tv/embed/22190759, original link had a "html5ui" parameter but it doesn't seem to help. Livestreamer with --default-stream mobile_720p gets 403.

cwilkes 11y ago
the ustream link is no longer available per the broadcaster's request
cookiecaper 11y ago
Yep. The player on the event screen (after you fill in information) has no timeshifting controls either. Stuck watching the whole thing with no fast-forward or rewind. Just tried to do so but got bored after 10 minutes of Model S commercials.
- greglindahl 11y ago
  You're watching a few commercials in a loop before the event starts, and you want a fast-forward button?
  - cookiecaper 11y ago
    I may have misunderstood. I thought the event had already occurred and that this was a recording. I didn't check the event start time. The event hasn't started yet? I'm on the East Coast so I guess it just seems late. It would've been helpful if there was some visual indication that the event hadn't started yet, like a countdown.

fungi 11y ago

you can pad mash any name and email

UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
I did just on principle. So Tesla can enjoy their millions of undeliverables and bouncebacks. Good luck on those leads Tesla sales.
- diskcat 11y ago
  nah they just want the number for marketing purposes >1 million tuned in to watch the unveiling and we got this list of emails to prove it >dick@dick.penis
  - therein 11y ago
    Wow, Donuts Domains is making everything a TLD nowadays.
    - fungi 11y ago
      1. get drunk 2. http://dumb.domains/ http://dumb.domains/ 3. wake up with stupid domains

cr__ 11y ago

Oh, good, "unveil" is a noun now, too.

bronz 11y ago
Actually the title was originally "Model3 Unveil Live-stream [video]" but it mysteriously changed to what it is now. I'm not complaining though.
- dang 11y ago
  We changed it to the page title, which is what the HN guidelines ask you to use in the first place, unless it is misleading or linkbait.
  - bronz 11y ago
    Thank you for simply correcting it instead of just deleting it. I didn't mean to do that.
    - dang 11y ago
      You're most welcome, but just so you know, we'd never delete a story for that reason. That would be an awful lot of deletion :)
dang 11y ago
Since its nounage was baity enough to elicit off-topic snark, I guess we'll go for the gerund.

mpg33 11y ago

Starts at 830PT correct?

bronz 11y ago
Yes.
voltagex_ 11y ago
If they're on time. That's 0330 UTC, for anyone who wants to convert it.
- bronz 11y ago
  This is actually a very good point because these events have started late more than once.
escherize 11y ago
I found out you can get a countdown timer if you google: countdown to 8:30pm PST or use this link: https://www.google.com.au/?q=countdown+to+8%3A15pm+PST#q=countdown+to+8:30pm+PST https://www.google.com.au/?q=countdown+to+8%3A15pm+PST#q=cou...

mattbeckman 11y ago

Just reserved mine. Of course, I double checked the terms to make sure it was refundable, but I'm ready for it to change the game.

alvern 11y ago
Over 115k reservations in 24hours! This is going to put serious pressure on other auto makers to step up their game.
- rokhayakebe 11y ago
  More like game over for some auto makers. You have to think for $35,000 would most people rather get a Tesla, a BMW, a Lexus, a Mercedes, or an Audi? Tesla is going to grab many of these guys customers. I for one, can't wait for my lease to be over.
  - beamatronic 11y ago
    The last time I looked at a reasonably loaded Honda Odyssey it was over $40k. $35k is not really a high end price point any longer. Also for those who care about such things, $35k buys you more social status with a Tesla than with one of those other ICE cars.
  - csours 11y ago
    It will take a while. BMW, Mercedes and Audi each sell 1.5MM a year [1] Tesla have targeted 500k vehicles a year, which would be a huge stretch from their current 70k a year. 1. http://www.autonews.com/article/20140113/COPY01/301139914/bmw-retains-global-luxury-sales-crown-for-ninth-straight-year http://www.autonews.com/article/20140113/COPY01/301139914/bm...
    - dingo_bat 11y ago
      >sell 1.5MM a year Is MM a typo or a legit way to write million? I decided to find out and here's a reddit thread explaining: https://www.reddit.com/r/answers/comments/2sd9bm/why_do_people_abbreviate_million_as_mm/ https://www.reddit.com/r/answers/comments/2sd9bm/why_do_peop...

salimmadjd 11y ago

A gated experience to watch the unveil video? Is Tesla desperate for leads and sales? This tells me Tesla is hurting for numbers or they're worried about GM Bolt and others. So they want to spam the interested parties or keep them from committing to other brands for the next year or so until Model 3 is available. BTW, Bolt has already been unveiled [0] And some manufacturing has already started [1] [0] http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/01/chevrolets-bolt-is-an-electric-vehicle-for-the-masses-and-weve-driven-it/ http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/01/chevrolets-bolt-is-an-el... [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqJ7Ob9I5eQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqJ7Ob9I5eQ

bronz 11y ago
Or they could just be collecting marketing data.
dcgoss 11y ago
You can fill in false data if you like, they aren't checking.
going_to_800 11y ago
Bolt? That's a car for girls(at least by design). Collecting emails is a good marketing tactic and they won't load the servers with everyone.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
- UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
  > Bolt? That's a car for girls(at least by design). I totally get that you don't like the Bolt's design, and that's perfectly fine. But, seriously, it is 2016 can we put the "that is for girls" "that is for guys" nonsense to bed? It is sexist against both genders. The whole implication is that "girly = bad" which is sexist, and then you have guys who are going to be emasculated if they enjoy a "girly" thing which is also sexist. Essentially it victimizes everyone. Let's leave that phase in the past along with gendered toy isles and pink/blue.

bane 11y ago

re: the commercial barrage, How the hell much to they pay postal carriers in Rural Minnesota? I'm definitely in the wrong business and live in the wrong place.

shirro 11y ago
Not sure if the commercials are geo-targetted but if you get the Australian guy his name is Simon Hackett. He founded an Internet business here. An interesting thing is Hackett is executive chairman of a company called Redflow which claims its Zinc Bromine home storage solution is better than Li-ion ones like Tesla Powerwall (though it seems to be a fair bit more expensive).
- voltagex_ 11y ago
  I want to see this ad - is it on UStream?
tomkinstinch 11y ago
I was curious too, but it looks like the USPS reimbursement rates [1] for rural personal vehicles are decent, and are no doubt geared toward gas cars that have much higher operating and maintenance costs. Depending on how far a mail carrier drives, it could plausibly cover the cost of the Model S. Not a bad gig. In the video, the postal carrier mentions the Tesla being better than spending $30 on gas per day. At $2.50/gallon, that's 12 gallons of gas. Assuming 20mpg (all of the stop and go), that's about 250 miles per day, or ~5000 miles per month assuming five-day delivery. 1. https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22340/html/info_003.htm https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22340/html/inf...
- mikeash 11y ago
  73.5 cents per mile, if he's doing 250 miles per day then that's about $180/day reimbursed, and about $10 for electricity. If he does this six days a week, that's something like $4,000/month just in mileage reimbursement. That'll cover the monthly payment on any Model S you care to configure, at least twice. You'll wear the car out a lot faster, but even so, sounds like a pretty good gig.

dcgoss 11y ago

Buckle your seatbelts!

NamTaf 11y ago

Hey wow it's Simon Hackett [1]. I wouldn't be surprised if he did this for free - he's always been a big supporter. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Hackett https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Hackett

shirro 11y ago
He is a huge fan. He had a Roadster as well. Fun fact is he appears to be heavily involved in a company aiming to compete with Tesla's Powerwall: http://redflow.com/about-us/board-management/ http://redflow.com/about-us/board-management/
- voltagex_ 11y ago
  Aha! He was being cagey about the name of this company so they must be getting closer. He lost a lot of respect after being on the NBN board but this might go a long way to restoring it.

manav 11y ago

EDIT: Found a live stream on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FLSxJjdnLU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FLSxJjdnLU Also, I made a reservation at the Fremont factory today. Took around 15 mins including line, but I went in around 10:30-11am. I'd estimate there were around 600 people before me in the morning. Fairly certain they will hit 100k before the stream starts.

emehrkay 11y ago
Ha. A youtube live stream of a periscope session. What a time
- emehrkay 11y ago
  Looks like a Chrysler 200 http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/autodata/images/?IMG=CAC50CRC211D01300.JPG&width=680 http://cdcssl.ibsrv.net/autodata/images/?IMG=CAC50CRC211D013...
  - deleted 11y ago
    [deleted]
dlubarov 11y ago
That's a really fast line! I went to the Burlingame shop at 8:30am (they open at 10am) and it was almost noon when I finished.
- rconti 11y ago
  Stanford, 9am. Out by 11:10.
giarc 11y ago
This youtube stream was much more reliable for me.
timdorr 11y ago
He announced 115,000 reservations before the stream began. That's $115m spent on a product no one had seen. Crazy.

ttam 11y ago

a line: https://twitter.com/TeslaMotors/status/715632500303761408 https://twitter.com/TeslaMotors/status/715632500303761408 holy shit comes to mind

jtokoph 11y ago
You would think Tesla was giving away cars with that kind of line.

ch8230 11y ago

They have a periscope link open https://www.periscope.tv/TeslaMotors/1ynJOXkmWdZxR https://www.periscope.tv/TeslaMotors/1ynJOXkmWdZxR

ch8230 11y ago
EDIT: The link was only a preview. It links back to their site now. Kinda defeats the purpose of using Periscope.

jsprogrammer 11y ago

Just a sign up form? For a hamburger menu icon?

prawn 11y ago
For a live stream that was yet to start.

valine 11y ago

> If you buy a conventional car, your interaction with the people who made it has ended. With Tesla, that interaction has only just begun. There's something unnerving about this. Your car has access to so much information about you. Where you go, where you work, what stores you like to shop at, and what restaurants you like. To me, a car is a tool. When I purchase a car, I'm purchasing The engine, the wheels, and the right to use the software running behind the scenes. I couldn't care less about forging a one sided, Orwellian relationship with a large company. Even if that company is freakishly awesome.

ttam 11y ago
I assume you're not using a smartphone?
throwawaytenmil 11y ago
Welp, enjoy using your phone buddy!
- Cthulhu_ 11y ago
  I'm not your buddy, friend!
toomuchtodo 11y ago
Different strokes. Tesla can have my $50K-100K. I'm buying everything you're worried about.
- supercoder 11y ago
  It's ugly and bad value. There will be better options in 2 years.
  - toomuchtodo 11y ago
    I have money to spend on things I don't have to wait for.
11y ago

usaphp 11y ago

can't stand those yelling people in behind...I wish I can turn on subtitles and turn off the volume

aresant 11y ago

I love Tesla the company and respect the hell out of Elon. But his presentation style is hard to watch - he is literally stammering through what feels like a dry script. I've never seen him live before is this par for the course or nerves? Edit - wow that is a better looking car than I expected. You can be as awkward serving as you like if that's the main course!

usaphp 11y ago
It looks like he always talks like that, at least from other videos I've seen with him
darylteo 11y ago
I think the crowd is more unnerving than Elon's presentation style... really cringy whoops and whistles and "YES!".
- tempestn 11y ago
  They must've had an open bar while people were waiting for the presentation to start or something. The crowd is ridiculous.
  - agildehaus 11y ago
    Those people are drunk on themselves, no need for an open bar.
manav 11y ago
He's usually like that. It kind of of makes you appreciate the Steve Jobs product unveils a bit more. Can't remember the last "product" that was hyped this much.
DarkTree 11y ago
That's actually just the way he talks according to every interview/presentation/video I've seen of him, albeit maybe with some added nerves.
11y ago

lai 11y ago

Wow, is that Transformers music?

barbs 11y ago
It felt a bit more "IronMan-esque" to me, personally :)

Mikeb85 11y ago

Pretty smart looking car. Doesn't ape the Model S' look too much, clearly looks a little more compact, and the roofline makes it look both roomy and a little space-agey. From the front it almost has a Porsche Panamera look going on... Nice looking car. I wish Tesla good luck, though I don't think they'll need it.

rokhayakebe 11y ago
Yeah, I was thinking Panamera.
dgritsko 11y ago
They announced during the livestream that they already have 115k preorders. Pretty crazy considering that they were all made site-unseen (I guess barring Tesla employees that placed their preorder and knew what the car looked like).
- Mikeb85 11y ago
  True. But based on previous models which are all pretty smart-looking, I'd say it was a safe enough bet that this model would be as well. It's funny too, I never thought about the price point they're actually selling it for. I can afford one, and might just get one for my wife (my car is still new-ish, and efficient enough).
TickleSteve 11y ago
The panamera is quite possibly the most ugly and awkward looking luxury car out there... (even Porsches CEO admits it! http://jalopnik.com/even-porsches-ceo-admits-the-panamera-is-kind-of-fugly-1645633158 http://jalopnik.com/even-porsches-ceo-admits-the-panamera-is...) This, on the other hand is genuinely good looking.
- rconti 11y ago
  The panamera is a very awkward car, I agree. But I get where the parent is coming from. I expected the 3 to look like a scaled down S, and a Tesla employee friend said to expect something between an S and an X (yes, he had seen it.. and no, comparison to the X is not a compliment). I was pleasantly surprised to see the video footage of it, though I don't think it translates well to the stills/screen grabs we've seen. The headlights-above-the-beltline look reminds me of the Roadster and the Panamera and maybe a touch like the Dodge Razor concept. it's very much not an S, while somehow being attractive in many of the ways the S is (and ugly in none of the ways that the X is). Overall I'm quite pleased with the looks.

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lai 11y ago

Wow it looks really nice. The front is completely sealed.

Ingon 11y ago
Yeah, I understand that's a bold "see, I'm electric" statement, but still feels a bit awkward.
- giarc 11y ago
  Might have been the low angle shot that made it look weird. Before that, I didn't even notice the nose.
- tokipin 11y ago
  Most cars have grills because they need the ventilation to cool the engine. I think they're mostly something we've gotten used to. When electric cars become more common those gas car grills will probably start looking clunky.
- cjhopman 11y ago
  I actually think the model 3 looks fine. I've seen several model x driving around and their nose is really hideous. The model s has just like a black section that looks normal and fine. The model 3 has done completely away with the black look and it looks fine. The model x just sort of is somewhere in the middle and it looks really, really awkward.
- Cthulhu_ 11y ago
  Only because you're used to a grill(e?); the Tesla doesn't need it, and if they added one for aesthetic purposes, it'd just be bad for aerodynamics and harder to clean.
- dingaling 11y ago
  Reminiscent of the Aston Martin blank-plate look from the 1980s: https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/s320x320/e15/11376559_444634672382291_1998483669_n.jpg https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xaf1/t51.2885-15/s...

dynofuz 11y ago

over 100000 orders... so they just made $100M in less than a day in just reservations. nice.

Cthulhu_ 11y ago
Well, they're just reservations and they can't exactly spend the money, since they'd have to repay it. Also it's 10M, not 100.
- hmate9 11y ago
  100,000 * $1,000 = $100,000,000
- codeulike 11y ago
  They can totally spend the money.

Fuzzwah 11y ago

I can see a good opportunity to start designing an after market replacement nose..... Looks a little uninspired, where as the rest of the design looks amazing.

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S_A_P 11y ago

Looks nice. I'm not completely sold on the nose but have no complaints about the rest. I am happy to see 115k+ preorders. Congrats Tesla!

impish19 11y ago

I was hoping he was referring to something other than the snacks that were served to the people camping overnight outside stores to order the Model 3 with this tweet: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715566236822671360 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715566236822671360 "Incredibly inspired by the interest in Model 3. You won't be disappointed. Also, small token of appreciation coming for those who lined up."

giarc 11y ago
I saw in a forum that a Tesla staff member said it would be mailed out to the in store pre-orders.
rconti 11y ago
I assume it's a t-shirt or keychain or something. I was "in line" (1h before store opened, 1h to get to the front) so I guess we'll see.

Yabood 11y ago

That is a very good looking 35K car! Job well done.

usaphp 11y ago

Wow, I don't really know how bmw or mercedes are going to compete with model 3. Tesla does not look worse than 3 series and C class, is faster and is almost free to run. And the base bmw 3 series starts at $33,200 and it is almost empty inside...It will be an interesting couple years for auto industry for sure.

kec 11y ago
The same way they're currently competing with the model S at the mid to high end: they provide a more luxurious experience at the same price point.
- rsync 11y ago
  "they provide a more luxurious experience at the same price point." A much, much, much more luxurious experience. The highest end, max-optioned Model S you can buy does not have as nice an interior as a decent 3 series or C class mercedes. It doesn't even beat out their low end. Never mind the cars in its price range (A8/S class/7series). They're not even remotely comparable in terms of interior or luxury appointment. I find it odd, actually ... of all the things you have to do to make a car, sourcing some decent highly adjustable seats and some nice leather appointments, etc., has to be the easiest. Further, you can just add a "luxury package" and option it at $9950 and call it a day ... and lots of people would buy it.
  - gozur88 11y ago
    I suspect it's at least partially a marketing decision. When a car interior gets too plush people start to think about grandpa's Cadillac.
    - superuser2 11y ago
      There is a pretty big difference between the German luxury aesthetic and the Detroit luxury aesthetic. It's clear why they're not imitating Cadillac, but why not take some cues from Audi or BMW?
11y ago

suprgeek 11y ago

Very clean looks also: 215 Miles Range with 0-60 in 6secs, Seats 5 will have autodrive tech all for $35,000 Deliveries begin end of 2017 (Hopefully) This is truly a mass market full electric car. We may be seeing something on the lines of the iPhone - a category busting product.

dgritsko 11y ago
Pretty solid specs for the base model. I'm very interested to see how much those numbers go up (or down, in the case of 0-60) as the options are revealed.
- kerryfalk 11y ago
  The P85D is a massive step from a base Model S in terms of performance. It has super car levels of performance. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Model 3 with something like a P65D besting M3/C63 performance numbers.
rsync 11y ago
"with 0-60 in 6secs" This part confuses me. The very fast 0-60 times that you see in electric cars are a function not of their massive engines or super tuned turbos, but of their instantaneous torque (as they are electric). Given that this is an electric car, and that its size and weight are commensurable to the (presumably) smaller electric motor, I would expect it to have similar 0-60 times. I just assumed that whenever this car was released it would have <4 second times ... why wouldn't it ?
- mikeash 11y ago
  Because you can make more money by charging extra for performance. For an extreme example, the Model S P90D has a $10,000 Ludicrous Mode option which just flips a software switch.
  - schwarrrtz 11y ago
    No, that upgrade involves replacing the main pack contactor and fuse so they can handle the higher current draw.

bronz 11y ago

Wow. The interior is absolutely jaw dropping. It looks so fucking good.

mehrdada 11y ago

He mentioned it has autopilot hardware standard (like the current Model S), which makes me suspect you have to pay a few thousand dollars more to unlock it in software.

mikeash 11y ago
He said autopilot safety features will be standard, which means the convenience features (lane keeping, automatic parking, etc.) will cost extra. Just like the S and X.
- rconti 11y ago
  Right to both points -- that's how I read it too. You could call it "crippleware", though autopilot hardware (albeit on a 2018 car, though on the other hand in 35k of 2018 dollars) ain't exactly cheap. It's probably more economical for Tesla to build the cars with the same h/w and then upcharge for the s/w. And it's nice to have the opportunity to do a software update for it if you later want it, even though I know some don't like the crippleware "feel". And yes, I also heard them saying the safety stuff will be standard. Again, makes sense. Nobody wants the bad PR of installing safety hardware, but some poor family got killed by their Unsafe Tesla Car (TM) because of a software feature that was disabled by Evilon Musk.

jonkiddy 11y ago

115k reservations in 24 hours. $115m. That is an excellent first day. Assuming there aren't many cancelations, ~$4B+ total by 4Q 2016. Very nice. However, I don't think the hype matched the presentation.

mikeyouse 11y ago
Q42018... Sales won't start until the end of 2017 (if things stay on schedule) and production will likely ramp up, I'd be surprised if they sell 100k Model 3s in the first year. Still, the average revenue to Tesla will probably be on the higher end, $45-$50k since they'll likely prioritize the performance versions as they've done for the S and the X so far, so 100k x $45k still gets you to $4.5B.

shekyboy 11y ago

Felt the presentation ended half way. Wanted him to show the inside of the car and all the features. Caught the glimpse the new horizontal screen, but no details on that in the presentation or on the side.... Wonder if they are not ready with all those yet. Or maybe I am used to Apple keynotes

c-slice 11y ago
The presentation definitely felt short. I wanted to understand more of the specifications, get to know the car a little bit. Especially if 115K people just pre-ordered something they know so little about.
UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
I was surprised too. They left SO many questions completely unanswered. At minimum I thought they'd give us an internal tour, show someone sitting in it, even if it was via cheezy video. Hopefully some vehicle reviewers will test drive it and we'll learn more going forward. Or when Tesla's site comes online.
- forgetsusername 11y ago
  >I was surprised too. I'm not. The car is not ready for prime-time, but there's pressure on Tesla, the company, to show they're "on track".
shekyboy 11y ago
Here is the periscope feed of a drive. You can see the horizontal screen better https://www.periscope.tv/w/1dRKZyRkpgNxB https://www.periscope.tv/w/1dRKZyRkpgNxB
- pritambaral 11y ago
  The link does not let me view it now. Such a video should not be a live-only stream.
  - 11y ago

Illniyar 11y ago

Can someone explain to me what tesla 3 is? Why all the hype?

DarkTree 11y ago
Elon Musk has been working to build not only the best electric vehicle, but the best vehicle in the world. The Tesla Model S was that vehicle in many ways, though it came at a high price point. Musk's first goal was to build this luxury Model S in order to build up a reputation, research EV technology, perfect the production line, acquire funding and gain a loyal following. However, this was just a preliminary step necessary to achieve his primary goal of bringing a mass-market electric vehicle into the world. This is where the Model 3 comes into play. It is an affordable, EV car built by Tesla for the general public. Elon and many people hope that bringing a mass-market, performance EV to the world will enact a shift away from combustion engine cars and therefore help dampen the damage humans are causing to the environment.

oh_sigh 11y ago

Who are these people that go to these events and do the high pitch "woo"ing? Seriously stop.

UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
I think part of the issue was that the audio was poorly mixed. This type of stuff happens at all kinds of events, but they typically isolate audio from the speaker only via lapel mic. You always mix in SOME crowd noise otherwise they don't seem to cheer. But it is a pretty dynamic operation with an operator raising the gain and lowering it as needed to get the desired effect. In this case the crowd noise was as loud as the speaker and as a result they seemed to shout over him.

Animats 11y ago

OK, $35K, 115,000 pre-orders, delivery early 2018. (Yeah, he said "next year", and then the projection said "late next year", and then he waffled, so 2018 is realistic.) Tesla's current production rate is about 70,000 units a year. Yes, the NUMMI plant once produced 500K vehicles a year on that site, but that just means Tesla has lots of empty building shell into which they can expand. The real problem is profitability. Bloomberg is skeptical.[1] Tesla isn't profitable, and they have a high price point now. Cutting the price means they have to produce at a far lower cost while expanding factory capacity. That will be very tough. Jason Wheeler, Tesla's CFO, is going to have to come up with some creative financial strategies. But with near-zero interest rates, and lots of pre-orders, they can probably borrow heavily for plant at very low cost. [1] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-03-31/tesla-doubles-down-with-the-model-3 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2016-03-31/tesla-double...

rconti 11y ago
For quite some time, they've said "late 2017" which means 2 or 3 VIPs.. or, at best, a few low-VIN# Roadster/Model S owners, which means deliveries won't even BEGIN ramping until this time 2018 ... which means, given Tesla's previous model delays, what, another year on top of that? We put money down today, but as non-VIPs, the earliest possible theoretical delivery is 2 years from today, and more realistically it's like 3 years. But the "late 2017" number has been consistent. That doesn't mean you should believe they'll hit it, just that it's been very consistent for some time now.
andersen1488 11y ago
>But with near-zero interest rates, and lots of pre-orders, they can probably borrow heavily for plant at very low cost. This is essentially the entire reason Tesla even exists. Nearly a decade of near zero interest rates have resulted in massive amounts of capital are available to be thrown at huge projects like this.
- dexterdog 11y ago
  Don't forget green subsidies

gameshot911 11y ago

Okay, I'll say it. I don't like the hatchback-esque look. I would have much preferred a normal sedan design. Yes the car is amazing in a ton of other ways, and yes the look will probably grow on me over time, but I don't want to "learn to love it". I want to innately find it beautiful at first glance. And my initial, instinctual reaction to the unveil was...a feeling of slight letdown.

UnoriginalGuy 11y ago
Hatchbacks give you more headroom than sedans. So if they're primarily concerned with its back seat roominess then going hatchback makes a lot of sense. Hatchbacks are simply more practical vehicles unfortunately. They don't even have that much worse MPG than a sedan, and they give you a little more space to work with. It is a pragmatic choice.
- m_mueller 11y ago
  Hatchbacks are also hugely popular in Europe. Maybe it will grow on Americans as well - something like the Model 3 could be watershed car that creates a new design fashion.
kbenson 11y ago
To keep size (and thus weight) down, but still seat 5, I'm not sure you have a lot of choice. That said, it might be possible they'll release a coupe variant, or a sporty wagon variant. I wouldn't mind if it was more wagon-esque, and that's probably the easier of the options as it wouldn't require reconfiguring rear seat size at all.
rconti 11y ago
I don't see why anybody likes dull sedans. They all look like Camrys to me. Even some of the best-looking cars that LOOK like sedans (like the Model S and Mazda6) were liftback/hatchback designs. I'm on car number 7 now and hope to never own a sedan in my life. Wagon/hatchback for life.
gameshot911 11y ago

manav 11y ago

I'm actually going to reduce my reservation to one car now. Pretty disappointed at the design, it looks like a Prius. For the price point, I would obviously still buy one... but the hatchback style is not as appealing for a mid level luxury car that may compete with a MB C-class or BMW 3-series. They could have made it look like an Audi A4 sedan, with an available hatchback, but I think that would cannibalize Model S sales to some extent. Tesla also announced they are going to increase Model S prices starting this month. This could be part of their strategy to increase Model S sales now, before they release revisions in the future. What's also interesting is that Tesla cleared all CPO inventory at the beginning of the year. On their Pre-Owned site, they had used Model S going for less than 50k. They cleared it all out early in the year and now only offer recent models as inventory for lease/purchase.

greglindahl 11y ago
You can't make a car with low drag without it being a hatchback. And low drag is key to reasonable battery size.
- reportingsjr 11y ago
  Yep, the design is called a K-tail. I've really started getting used to it and don't mind it at all any more.
- manav 11y ago
  True. Some design elements still seem strange to me, but perhaps it was optimized for efficiency?. There is no front grille for instance. While there is no need for one on an electric car, the Tesla still has an indent for one.
  - Corrado 11y ago
    I think part of the front end design was shaped by laws requiring a human safe zone in the front of the car. My understanding is that every car on the road must not push a human under the car but up and over the hood. Maybe that's why the front end has that indent.

jvm 11y ago

> Both cars will start at $30,000 or less after federal tax credits of $7,500 are applied. And both go at least 200 miles on a fully charged battery. The Bolt is a five-passenger hatchback that boasts cargo space and more legroom for rear passengers—front-seat backs are an inch thinner than in most cars. Looks almost identical specs-wise to Chevy Bolt, which will be available at the end of 2016 rather than 2017. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-31/tesla-s-newest-electric-enemy-chevy http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-03-31/tesla-s-ne...

mikeash 11y ago
The Tesla is a bit cheaper. I don't think the Bolt has any Autopilot-like options. Far more importantly, the Bolt has no real fast charging infrastructure, either existing or planned. If you like to drive to places more than 200 miles away, there's still only one company with an EV that can reasonably do that.
- 11402101 11y ago
  Supercharging network should be irrelevant in my mind. If you need to drive more than 200 miles away, you need ICE. Assuming you could get a 100% full charge in 30 minutes at a supercharger, and 210 miles of range at 60mph, you are driving 3.5 hours and standing around for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, ICE can get you 400 miles, or 6.5 hours of driving at 60mph, on a 15 minute gas fill up. Electrics are great for a lot of reasons, but long road trips in a Model 3 is going to be a lot of time staring at clouds.
  - bdunn 11y ago
    I own a Model S and have clocked 23k miles on it over the last year, most of which on long roadtrips. I love it. The car mostly drives itself between superchargers, and the SCs are usually next to coffee shops or restaurants. I don't mind getting up and stretching / having a drink every few hours. But if minimizing recharging/refueling is your main priority, yeah, you can't beat ICE.
    - 11y ago

fumar 11y ago

It's exciting to see the model 3 take more hatchback proportions. I hope it brings the hatch functionality to a more mainstream US audience. It also solidifies the global nature of Tesla. Hatchbacks and wagons are commonplace in Europe – oftentimes preferred over an SUV or sedan.

dragontamer 11y ago

Seats five is interesting... but I'm not quite seeing the perspective. Its hard to tell the size difference. From my eyes, it looks like its roughly the size of a Scion, maybe only a little bit larger than a Honda Fit. Which seats 5... technically... but its not too comfortable. Its more of a 4-seater with a 5th seat that may be used if you care about it.

robmcm 11y ago
Because of the lack of combustion engine, gear box and drive train the interior of the Model S is huge compared to other similar sized conventional cars. I imagine the model 3 has the same benefits and the interior is a lot larger than it looks.

shekyboy 11y ago

115k in pre-orders totaling to $4B So today was their Kickstarter pitch :-)

ph0rque 11y ago

"Thanks for tuning in to the Model 3 unveil Part 1! Part 2 is super next level, but that's for later…" https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715765746429784064 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715765746429784064

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

agumonkey 11y ago

I may be that paranoid, but the glass roof feels as thrilling as scary. What happens if something drops on it ? if the car ends up tumbling ? the roll cage is probably as sturdy as anything Tesla did before but that seems like a too large open spot ..

_ph_ 11y ago
It should be multi-layer safety glass like the front window. Those are very tough as they keep shape even when shattered.
Cthulhu_ 11y ago
It'd probably just shatter; should be laminated glass so it wouldn't explode into your eyes much. Regular cars are just as scary when you think about it, imagine the roof collapsing on top of you.
- agumonkey 11y ago
  Well, two flavor of hell. Metal doesn't fracture. So it shields you for a while, but it it can also hold you hostage.
  - arprocter 11y ago
    I rolled a car with a sunroof once - luckily the shade was closed so I didn't have to crawl over too much broken glass. The door windows also disappeared, but the front screen stayed together

slg 11y ago

Some of the press pics and video from inside the car is really interesting. There is no instrument panel and the only screen is the center tablet. That would seem to be somewhat inconvenient to view things like speed. I wonder if that is hinting at a future with expanded autopilot were the driver can pay less attention to the instruments. [1] - https://twitter.com/autonews_west/status/715761107508584448 https://twitter.com/autonews_west/status/715761107508584448 [2] - https://twitter.com/autonews_west/status/715767638916472833 https://twitter.com/autonews_west/status/715767638916472833

quietplatypus 11y ago
Obviously you're expectd to be a hardcore motorsport enthusiast who has a honed instinct for the current kph :p
Cthulhu_ 11y ago
Usually you'd drive on cruise control, I reckon. Wouldn't be surprised if Tesla has or adds a semi-auto cruise control that either matches speed with other traffic, or with the speed limits on that stretch of road already.
- vsl 11y ago
  It has.
jonshariat 11y ago
As a UI designer this is really interesting. How do drivers view speed? I need a demo video!
- dabeeeenster 11y ago
  I think the car has to have a HUD...surely...
  - mikeash 11y ago
    I don't think it needs one. Speed is displayed on the driver's side of the center screen. There are lots of cars out there already with the instrument cluster in the center of the dashboard rather than behind the steering wheel, such as the Prius.

Illniyar 11y ago

Since the symbol looks like an E, it replaces the E in Tesla and the previous models were named S and X. Shouldn't this really be the model E and not 3?

rattray 11y ago
Yes, that was the company's hope until Ford stopped them: http://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2014/06/04/elon-musk-ford-is-killing-sex/#1c5d5c7f7db5 http://www.forbes.com/sites/briansolomon/2014/06/04/elon-mus...
moonka 11y ago
From what I've heard, Ford has the rights to Model E, so they changed it to 3.

llomlup 11y ago

Something isn't right there. The cockpit doesn't seem to be finished. Compared to Model S and Model X cockpits, this one isn't on par. Where are screens behind the wheel, what about the middle console, AC, wheel controls? http://cdn2.autoexpress.co.uk/sites/autoexpressuk/files/styles/gallery_adv/public/2016/04/20160331_213033.jpg?itok=a-gRwFAW http://cdn2.autoexpress.co.uk/sites/autoexpressuk/files/styl..., seriously?

Corrado 11y ago
I agree, to a point. The interior does look a bit spartan, however is this just a pre-release model? Will the final car look exactly like this? I can see certain things being tweaked over the next year and the dash is one of them.
- ohitsdom 11y ago
  Musk said as much: "You will see the car very clearly, but some important elements will be added and some will evolve." https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715309739752747009 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715309739752747009
robmcm 11y ago
I suspect it could have a HUD (Head up display) to show the driver basic information (speed, navigation etc). Everything else can be on the center console. Look at the citroen cactus dashboard and make it more Tesla-like http://images.autowereld.com/high/78673-image.jpg http://images.autowereld.com/high/78673-image.jpg

rayalez 11y ago

Video on youtube(high quality): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4VGQPk2Dl8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4VGQPk2Dl8

pepijndevos 11y ago
Thanks. Is it me or is the camera tilted CCW a bit?

helicon 11y ago

Yesterday Elon Musk tweeted this[1]: "Tomorrow is Part 1 of the Model 3 unveil. Part 2, which takes things to another level, will be closer to production. " And back in January he tweeted this[2]: "In ~2 years, summon should work anywhere connected by land & not blocked by borders, eg you're in LA and the car is in NY" Do you think he is saying the Model 3 will be fully autonomous? [1] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715307847890903041 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/715307847890903041 [2] https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/686279251293777920 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/686279251293777920

scoot 11y ago
It sounds like it, but that would be on hell of a battery range if that's true.
- spurgu 11y ago
  It will probably be able to drive itself to a charging station. :)
  - illumin8 11y ago
    They've written about this on their blog: https://www.teslamotors.com/node/14147?no_cache=1459519432 https://www.teslamotors.com/node/14147?no_cache=1459519432 The eventual goal is to have the car be able to open your garage door, exit, close your garage door, then drive to your location, stopping to charge itself at supercharger stations along the way. The NYC to LA tweet implies the car would need fully autonomous driving capabilities to do so.
- randomname2 11y ago
  Maybe it could charge itself at charging stations?
- helicon 11y ago
  I don't mean the range so much as it sounds like he could be hinting that the car will be capable of being fully autonomous. Considering the price point for the entry level version is ~35k, could we be about to see the first mass market self driving car?

m-i-l 11y ago

There's a link to a replay of the launch event on the Tesla Model 3 product page at https://www.teslamotors.com/model3 https://www.teslamotors.com/model3 (the link is to https://vimeo.com/161138986 https://vimeo.com/161138986 ).

ck2 11y ago

As long as there is a metal roof option in a couple decades when I can finally afford to buy one third-hand used. Glass roof anywhere in the southwestern or southeastern usa is the worst idea I've ever seen. Not only the sun but stuff constantly being thrown on or at it on the highways. Never had a windshield last more than a decade without a crack, imagine what it costs to replace a piece of glass the size of a car.

illumin8 11y ago
I've never had a rear window or sunroof get a rock chip on the highway before, have you?

node-bayarea 11y ago

Wrote: Tesla Model 3 = Massive Traffic Jams + Parking Problems! Am I wrong? https://medium.com/@rajaraodv/tesla-model-3-massive-traffic-jams-parking-problems-269b120657e9#.5ylvp0t4r https://medium.com/@rajaraodv/tesla-model-3-massive-traffic-...

viperscape 11y ago

The low price especially concerns me since that means they're targeting high volume sales. A great question is what will become of the millions of batteries 5, 10, 15 years from now. https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/mythbusters-part-3-recycling-our-non-toxic-battery-packs https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/mythbusters-part-3-recyclin... Goes in to some detail but basically states, we have some good ideas, but our fallback is the land fill since these batteries etc are considered non toxic. Still: sourcing, building, recycling, and disposing of these batteries seems like a giant problem that is hard to believe is environmentally sound