What did Elon promise for the Model 3?

Q12619 answers2012-2019
Short answer

He said it was quite likely Tesla would achieve a 5,000-car week by the end of that month.

From his 2018-06 answer in Tesla Shareholder Meeting 2018. Summary is ours; see the quotes below.

All 19 answers, oldest to newest

🎙 Interview · 2012-06-06 · Tesla 2012 Annual Shareholder Meeting · asked by Tesla shareholders · watch at 24:05 · transcript ·
He said the high-volume third-generation car would be to the Model S what a BMW 3 Series is to a 5 Series.
"if you think of a Model S as being comparable to say a 5 Series BMW then the model then the third generation will be say comparable to a 3-series BMW"
🎙 Interview · 2013-06-11 · Tesla 2013 Annual Shareholder Meeting · asked by Tesla shareholders · watch at 31:32 · transcript ·
He said the third-generation car, a smaller Model S at about half the price, would come around the end of 2016.
"probably end of 2016 I would say is the third generation vehicle or the vehicle that's smaller in a lot of ways a smaller version of the Model S at about half the price"
🎙 Interview · 2016-03 · Tesla Model 3 Unveiling · asked by Tesla · watch at 10:01 · transcript ·
He said Model 3 would be five-star in every safety category, not just on average.
"it will be five star in every category"
🎙 Interview · 2016-03 · Tesla Model 3 Unveiling · asked by Tesla · watch at 17:15 · transcript ·
He said the Model 3 price would be $35,000.
"of course it'll be $35,000"
𝕏 post · 2017-03-24 · @elonmusk on X · open post ·
He said Model 3 is a smaller, more affordable version of Model S with less range, power and features.
"Model 3 is just a smaller, more affordable version of Model S w less range & power & fewer features."
🎙 Interview · 2017-07 · Tesla Model 3 Handover Event · asked by Tesla · watch at 5:29 · transcript ·
He said Tesla was going to be in production hell.
"And frankly, we're going to be in production hell."
🎙 Interview · 2017-07 · Tesla Model 3 Handover Event · asked by Tesla · watch at 10:46 · transcript ·
He said the standard Model 3 would be $35,000 for 220 miles of range.
"The standard, well, is going to be $35,000 for a 220 mile range."
𝕏 post · 2018-04-08 · @elonmusk on X · asked by @anshulbhide · open post ·
Says Model 3 is the whole point; the expensive cars were made to get to the mass-market car.
"Model 3 is the whole point. We only made the more expensive cars in order to make the mass-market car."
𝕏 post · 2018-04-08 · @elonmusk on X · asked by @bvledford · open post ·
Says Tesla must reach 5k/week of Model 3 before adding complexity.
"We need to achieve 5k/week with Model 3 before adding complexity that would inhibit production ramp"
🎙 Interview · 2018-05-02 · Tesla Q1 2018 earnings call (2018) · asked by Tesla Investor Relations · watch at 1:01:17 · transcript ·
In May 2018 he said the focus was getting Model 3 to about 5,000 a week at a good margin and making Tesla profitable.
"Our focus is on the Model 3. We need to get that to about 5,000 a week at a good margin. We need to become profitable company."
🎙 Interview · 2018-05-02 · Tesla Q1 2018 earnings call (2018) · asked by Tesla Investor Relations · watch at 10:39 · transcript ·
In May 2018 he said he was quite confident Tesla would achieve GAAP net income and positive cash flow in Q3 2018.
"I'm feeling quite confident about achieving GAAP net income and positive cash flow in Q3."
🎙 Interview · 2018-05-02 · Tesla Q1 2018 earnings call (2018) · asked by Tesla Investor Relations · watch at 29:01 · transcript ·
He says Tesla could have made the Model 3 much easier to produce.
"There's no question we could have made the Model 3 much easier to produce than we"
𝕏 post · 2018-05-04 · @elonmusk on X · open post ·
Says Model 3 had about half a million reservations, so even at 5,000 a week it would take two years to fill existing demand.
"Tesla has roughly half a million reservations, despite no advertising & no cars in showrooms. Even after reaching 5k/week production, it would take 2 years just to satisfy existing demand even if new sales dropped to 0."
𝕏 post · 2018-05-20 · @elonmusk on X · open post ·
Announces the dual-motor Model 3 Performance specs: 0-60 mph in 3.5 s, 155 mph top speed and 310 miles of range.
"Tesla dual motor, all-wheel drive performance Model 3: 3.5 sec 0-60mph 155 mph Top Speed 310 mile Range"
𝕏 post · 2018-05-20 · @elonmusk on X · open post ·
Says the Model 3 Performance costs $78k with all options (apart from Autopilot), about the same as a BMW M3 but quicker.
"Cost of all options, wheels, paint, etc is included (apart from Autopilot). Cost is $78k. About same as BMW M3, but 15% quicker"
𝕏 post · 2018-05-21 · @elonmusk on X · asked by @ivanovi_ivaylo · open post ·
Explains shipping the minimum-cost Model 3 right away would make Tesla lose money and die.
"Shipping min cost Model 3 right away wd cause Tesla to lose money & die."
𝕏 post · 2018-05-22 · @elonmusk on X · asked by @ElectrekCo · open post ·
After the Consumer Reports braking test, he said a firmware update would fix Model 3 braking distance within days.
"Looks like this can be fixed with a firmware update. Will be rolling that out in a few days. With further refinement, we can improve braking distance beyond initial specs."
🎙 Interview · 2018-06 · Tesla Shareholder Meeting 2018 · asked by Tesla · watch at 2:55 · transcript ·
He said it was quite likely Tesla would achieve a 5,000-car week by the end of that month.
"it's quite likely that we will achieve a 5,000 car week by the end of this month."
𝕏 post · 2019-03-01 · @elonmusk on X · open post ·
Says the exact Model 3 in his profile pic costs $35k and takes a minute to buy online.
"Exact Tesla Model 3 in my profile pic costs $35k before incentives & takes 1 minute to buy online"

Last updated: 2019-03-01 (newest answer).

Spotted a mistake? Report it: tell us on X (@ElonsFAQ). Please mention Q126.

Related questions

More in Work ethic, urgency and building companiesAll topics