3 ms·

Well, I don't know what "hype" says, but it's fairly obvious by size and price that the Model 3 is in the small luxury sedan category, of which the BMW 3 and MB

Well, I don't know what "hype" says, but it's fairly obvious by size and price that the Model 3 is in the small luxury sedan category, of which the BMW 3 and MB C-series are the big players. But if you need a citation here's an Elon tweet: "Sorta. Model 3 is like a BMW 3 series or Audi A4. Model S is like BMW 5 and 6 series, but much faster, more storage space + Autopilot" [https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/845282298291339267?lang=en https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/845282298291339267?lang=...] You could also check with the car press [https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/model-3/first-drive https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/model-3/first-drive] [https://www.caranddriver.com/tesla/model-3 https://www.caranddriver.com/tesla/model-3] or the Tesla press [https://www.teslarati.com/bmw-vs-tesla-large-luxury-car-market/ https://www.teslarati.com/bmw-vs-tesla-large-luxury-car-mark...]. The current prices of available Model 3s are an artifact of production decisions. They will sell $35k base models eventually. By comparison to the Model S it's affordable and mass market, and where it landed was always the plan. It was never going to be like a Toyota Corolla.

mmt 8y ago
> Well, I don't know what "hype" says How about go and look at the original announcements/teasers, since you appear to be more a fan of the car press than I am? How about something from their current web page? "Designed to attain the highest safety ratings in every category, Model 3 achieves 220 miles of range while starting at only $35,000 before incentives." I see a phrase at least implying mass-market appeal ("every category") and prominently stating the still-fictional $35k price. > but it's fairly obvious by size and price that the Model 3 is in the small luxury sedan category Maybe, but that's a narrow definition, and says nothing about Tesla's positioning of their product, only your opinion of its category. > here's an Elon tweet: "Sorta A tweet from Elon, especially one that, literally, begins with the word "sorta" and goes on to use the word "like", isn't exactly compelling evidence for "precisely positioned". > You could also check with the car press I just looked at those three articles, and I also saw nothing there about Tesla's positioning of this product. > By comparison to the Model S it's affordable and mass market Although affordable in comparison does, tenuously, make sense to me, the second bit does not. Something is either mass market or it isn't. If it's not broadly affordable to the masses, it isn't marketable to them.

mmt 8y ago

> Well, I don't know what "hype" says How about go and look at the original announcements/teasers, since you appear to be more a fan of the car press than I am? How about something from their current web page? "Designed to attain the highest safety ratings in every category, Model 3 achieves 220 miles of range while starting at only $35,000 before incentives." I see a phrase at least implying mass-market appeal ("every category") and prominently stating the still-fictional $35k price. > but it's fairly obvious by size and price that the Model 3 is in the small luxury sedan category Maybe, but that's a narrow definition, and says nothing about Tesla's positioning of their product, only your opinion of its category. > here's an Elon tweet: "Sorta A tweet from Elon, especially one that, literally, begins with the word "sorta" and goes on to use the word "like", isn't exactly compelling evidence for "precisely positioned". > You could also check with the car press I just looked at those three articles, and I also saw nothing there about Tesla's positioning of this product. > By comparison to the Model S it's affordable and mass market Although affordable in comparison does, tenuously, make sense to me, the second bit does not. Something is either mass market or it isn't. If it's not broadly affordable to the masses, it isn't marketable to them.