New Tesla Sedan To have 250-Mile Range, Cost 35k

We reported previously the next innovation in the Tesla Motors Fleet is the Tesla Model III. After Tesla finally curbs delays and releases the Model X, they have set the goal of revolutionizing the auto industry by selling a mass-market electric vehicle. The Model III is slated to cost around $35,000 before government subsidies. The long-predicted range for the more affordable electric vehicle was always thought to be 200 miles, however, recent comments by Tesla Motors founder and CEO Elon Musk have been more optimistic.

A report from NOLA.com indicates that the Tesla Model III will have a range of 250 miles. This comes from the mouth of Elon Musk, speaking to Edison Electric Institute convention audience in New Orleans. The always outspoken CEO also mentioned the price of the Model III would be around $35,000. If Tesla can pull off the Model III with 250 miles of range, it would be an invasive vehicle in the global automotive landscape. However, at this point that’s a big “if.” The electric car company based out of California still has to build their Gigafactory. Without the Gigafactory, they can’t mass-produce the Lithium-Ion batteries for the model S. Without innovation and mass production they can’t lower the price of the Model III low enough to be a mass-market electric car.

If Tesla Motors wants to introduce the world to the Tesla Model III in 2017 they first need to figure out their Tesla Model X. The crossover hatch was supposed to be on road and available to the public in 2015. That timeframe however, has been bumped back to “early 2016.” The current projection timeline for the Tesla Model III is that it will go into production in 2016 with deliveries possible in 2017.

With every story that we do about Tesla Motors, time creeps forward. We are getting closer to the day when Tesla will either release a mass-market car that invades the automotive industry or they will not. Will they ever work with dealers even on a hybrid basis and can they ever grow to making 500,000 vehicles per year?