It’s ‘pencil down’ day on the Tesla Model 3, according to Musk

By Bruce Brown July 15, 2016

Tesla Model 3 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Model 3 shook up the automotive world when demand for Tesla’s entry-level car far outstripped even the manufacturer’s high hopes. That demand, as measured by people putting down actual money for pre-orders, raised expectations and put pressure on the company. Well, today’s an important day for Tesla and the Model 3, according to Electrek. This is the day Tesla is expected to put the “pencil down,” calling an end to the preliminary engineering design stage.

Six weeks have passed since Tesla CEO Elon Musk referred to the need for “some tweaking” when he said, “Almost all of the Model 3’s design is done and we are aiming for pencil down basically in about six weeks.” There will be further feature set announcements and final design unveilings shortly before production begins in the latter part of 2017, but the initial design phase should be ending now.

Though the sun will still rise for Tesla if it doesn’t hit the announced deadline, the company will benefit if it hits the target. And granted, Musk did say “about six weeks,” which allows some wiggle room. The roughly 400,000 people on the Model 3 reservation list would likely appreciate solid progress as well.

It’s easy to recognize technology pioneers — they’re the ones with the big targets painted on their backs. It’s difficult to overstate the extent to which Tesla’s Autopilot has been in the news during the past three weeks, and some of that may have been the result of pioneer targeting. But business carries on and development continues on several fronts.

Musk has stated that the Model 3 won’t pose the challenges of the Model S and the Model X, which share share the same platform. “[With the Model 3] we are making something that is a lot simpler, but still a car that people will love and where every design decision is factoring in manufacturability and making sure that when we design something that we can manufacture at volume, at an affordable price, and on the schedule we are targeting,” Musk said.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

Digital Trends Contributing Editor Bruce Brown is a member of the Smart Homes and Commerce teams. Bruce uses smart devices…

Cars

Tesla launches more affordable Model S and Model X, but there’s a catch

A 2021 Tesla Model S.

Tesla has launched more affordable versions of its Model S sedan and Model X SUV in the U.S. and Canada, though they come with shorter driving ranges. Deliveries of the new vehicles will begin next month.

The new Model S "standard range" vehicles cost $78,490 and offer a range of up to 320 miles (515 kilometers), which is considerably shorter than the pricier regular dual-motor and tri-motor Plaid versions that feature a range of 405 miles and 396 miles, respectively, Reuters reported.

Cars

Move aside, Tesla. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the best electric sedan for the masses

The front view of a red Hyundai Ioniq 6.

EVs of all shapes and sizes are finally coming, but not in equal measure. While we now have a solid array of midsize crossovers (like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6), sedans and SUVs aren't quite there yet. Sure, we have expensive sedans and SUVs, like the Rivian R1S and the Lucid Air, but if you're looking for a car for your small family and don't want, or can't afford, to spend a ton of cash, your options are limited.

But that's changing -- and there's a new car that, at least right now, makes a serious case for itself. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is the best electric sedan for the masses, and it goes right up against the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. With a base price of $41,600, the Ioniq 6 is right in the same league as the $40,240 Model 3 and $48,400 Polestar 2.
What else is even out there?
When it comes to lower-priced electric sedans, before now, there were really only two options: the Tesla Model 3 and the Polestar 2. Other sedans exist, but they're not accessible by the majority of drivers. I recently reviewed the Lucid Air Grand Touring and loved it -- but I'm not spending $138,000 on a car unless I win the lottery.

Cars

Tesla Model 3 maintenance costs: What can you expect?

A Tesla Model 3 electric car.

One of the big promises of electric vehicles is that they require less maintenance than a gasoline-powered car, and thus cost less over time. That’s largely because EVs have a whole lot fewer moving parts. When you don't have an engine, you don't have to worry about oil changes, spark plugs, or exhaust systems, to name just a few examples.

The Tesla Model 3 is no different in that regard. While Tesla cars notoriously suffer from issues like panel gaps and other factory defects, Tesla covers these repairs under warranty, as long as you buy the car from Tesla itself. After that, there are few costs associated with maintenance at all. Here’s a rundown of the maintenance costs you can expect as a Tesla Model 3 owner.
Tesla Model 3 maintenance