Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 is a battery electric powered mid-size sedan with a fastback body style built by Tesla, Inc.. It started in 2017 and was made to cost less than earlier Tesla cars. Because of this, many people around the world liked it.

From 2018 to 2020, the Model 3 was the world's most sold plug-in electric car. After that, another Tesla car, the Tesla Model Y, which is a crossover SUV, became very popular too. In June 2021, the Model 3 sold more than 1 million units around the world.

In late 2023, Tesla made a new version of the Model 3 with fresh looks inside and out. This new model first sold in places served by the Gigafactory Shanghai and then in early 2024 in North America and other spots supplied by the Tesla Fremont Factory.

History

In 2006, Elon Musk talked about the Model 3 as a car that most people could afford. By 2017, Tesla said the Standard Range version would go about 215 miles, seat five people, and have strong performance like a sports car. They also said it would be very safe and slippery, meaning it would cut through the wind easily.

Very quickly after showing the Model 3 in 2016, Tesla had over 300,000 people who wanted to buy it. This showed a lot of interest in the car. But making so many cars so fast was hard, and Tesla had to find new ways to get it done.

The Model 3 was part of Tesla’s plan to start with expensive cars and then make cheaper ones. This helped them improve their technology and still make money from their first cars.

In 2018, Tesla changed its plan and said they could make 6,000 cars a week by the end of June. By July 2018, they were making 5,000 cars a week, just as they said.

By early 2020, the Model 3 became the best-selling electric car in the world. Then, the Tesla Model Y, a small SUV based on the Model 3, took that place.

Model naming

In 2006, Musk talked about “Model 2” and “Model 3.” The Model 3 was called “BlueStar” in Tesla’s early plans. It was finally announced in 2014. At first, Musk wanted the names of his cars to spell out a special word, but he changed it to just “3” after some problems.

Market

In 2015, Tesla said they would show the Model 3 in March 2016. People could put down a deposit to reserve a car starting March 31, 2016. Current Tesla owners and employees got to buy early as a thank you for helping make the Model 3.

When Tesla finally showed the Model 3, over 115,000 people had reserved it in just one day! In two days, that number went up to 232,000. One week later, Tesla had over 325,000 reservations.

China became a big market for the Model 3, second only to the U.S. By July 2017, when the car was released, there were over 500,000 reservations.

2020 changes

In November 2020, the Model 3 got some new looks inside and out, like black instead of chrome on some parts. It also got better heating and cooling, a power trunk, and quieter windows.

Other changes

Over time, Tesla took out some parts, like the radar for adaptive cruise control and the sensors that helped with parking. They used a system that relies on cameras instead.

2023 update

In September 2023, Tesla updated the Model 3 again. This update made the car go farther, cost less to make, and look different. Inside, there were new features like a screen for people in the back, better seats, and more speakers. The car also got new technology to help it drive safer.

The updated Model 3 was first made in China and later in the U.S. for sale in North America starting in January 2024.

Design

In 2013, the design chief said the Model 3 would be a car like popular models. It offers good range, affordability, and performance. The Model 3 is smaller than Tesla’s earlier cars but has its own special look. One big design choice was not having a front grille, because electric cars don’t need one. All versions of the Model 3 have a large glass roof.

The inside of the Model 3 is very simple, with few physical buttons. Most controls are on a single, large touchscreen. Some people liked the screen, but noted that drivers have to use menus for some things. Tesla is one of the few car makers that does not offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Production

Gigafactory Shanghai has been making the Model 3 since December 2019 for people in China and other places outside the United States.

Production stages

In 2013, Tesla talked about making 400,000 Model 3 cars each year. In May 2016, Tesla told its suppliers they wanted to make more cars than before—100,000 in 2017 and 400,000 in 2018. But making so many was very hard. Tesla started building the cars in July 2017, but they didn’t make as many as they wanted to right away.

Deliveries

Tesla changed its plan for delivering the Model 3 to make things simpler and avoid problems. The first cars were sent out in the second half of 2017, but not as many as Tesla hoped.

2017

In July 2017, Elon Musk said there would be big problems making enough cars. Tesla made only 260 cars in the third quarter and 1,542 in the fourth quarter of 2017. By the end of 2017, they had sent out 1,764 Model 3 cars.

2018

In the first half of 2018, the Model 3 was the most popular alternative fuel vehicle in California, and it was the top-selling plug-in electric car in the U.S. all through 2018. By the end of 2018, more than 100,000 Model 3 cars had been sent out worldwide.

2019

Sales started in Europe and China in February 2019. By the end of 2019, the Model 3 was the world’s best-selling plug-in electric car for the second year in a row, with over 300,000 cars sent out.

2020

The Model 3 became the world’s best-selling plug-in electric car ever in early 2020. By the end of 2020, about 814,000 Model 3 cars had been sent out worldwide.

2021

In 2021, the Model 3 became the all-time bestselling electric vehicle in the Netherlands. By June 2021, over 1 million Model 3 cars had been sold around the world.

Concerns

In May 2018, some tests showed that the Model 3 had trouble stopping quickly. Tesla quickly made an update that helped fix this. Later, some people reported small problems with the car, but these got better over time. In 2020, problems with parts and factories because of the COVID-19 outbreak caused some issues. There were also some safety changes in 2021 that needed more checking.

Specifications

The Tesla Model 3 is a car that runs on electricity instead of fuel. It has a special motor that helps it speed up quickly from a stop. This motor uses strong magnets, which make it powerful at first but less so at very high speeds.

The car uses special battery packs to store its electricity. These batteries are made in different factories and come in different types to fit the car's needs. Some batteries last longer but cost less because they use fewer expensive materials.

When the Model 3 was first made, it came with different battery sizes that gave it different driving ranges. Over time, Tesla has made small changes to improve the car, like adding parts to keep the charge port from freezing and updating the car's software to make it go faster. The car is mostly made from steel and aluminum, and it has special systems to help it stay stable and cool while driving. In 2024, Tesla updated the Model 3 with new features like better seats and a new way to choose gears using a screen.

Safety

After crash tests in 2019, the Tesla Model 3 did very well. It got five stars in every category from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a 94% score from Euro NCAP for its active safety features.

The Model 3 might lose its top safety rating in 2026 because it does not have regular physical buttons. The car also has hidden door handles, which some places are worried about for safety. China is planning to ban these hidden handles, and Tesla has until January 1, 2027, to change the design if they still want to sell cars there. Other countries are also looking into whether these hidden handles should be banned.

Automobile racing

The 2024 STCC Scandinavia Touring Car Championship was fully electric. Races happened in Gothenburg’s city center. The race cars were based on the Tesla Model 3 by Brink Motorsport. This gave Tesla its first chance to race in automobile racing.

Reliability

In November 2024, the Tesla Model 3 ranked last in a study of car inspections in Germany and Austria. These inspections are required in Germany. The study found that the Tesla Model 3 had a higher failure rate partly because Tesla does not require regular maintenance checks. In Denmark, 23% of 2020 model year Tesla Model 3 cars failed their first inspection in 2024, compared to 9% of electric cars from other brands.

Reception

The Tesla Model 3 was praised for its design and simplicity. Many said it looked like products from Apple. Critics liked its modern style, but some thought the front looked a bit strange. The car was also known for its comfortable ride and roomy inside.

The Model 3 won many awards. It was named Car of the Year by several magazines. It also won for safety, technology, and value. In 2018, it went the farthest on one charge, showing how far electric cars could travel. It also won an award for keeping its value over time.

Recalls

Tesla has made several updates to its Model 3 cars to keep them safe and working well. In late 2021, some Model 3 cars needed a fix because a part in the back could get damaged. In late 2022, all Model 3 cars got an update to help their lights work better so other drivers can see them clearly.

In early 2023, Tesla made an important update for cars with a special driving helper system in the United States and Canada. This update helps the car follow speed limits and stop properly at intersections. In late 2023, another update made sure drivers were paying attention while using the car’s driving helper feature.

In early 2024, Tesla updated cars to make warning signs bigger and easier to read. Later that year, more updates fixed problems with seat belt warnings and tire pressure monitoring. By late 2024 and early 2025, Tesla continued to send updates to fix more issues, like problems with power steering and certain seat parts in some cars. These updates were sent to cars over the internet, so owners didn’t need to visit a service center.