Tesla has shipped the Tesla Model 3 outside the US.
Images published on Facebook group Auckland EV Owners and Facebook fan page
Tesla Talk New Zealand reveal that the Tesla Model 3 has reached the southern
hemisphere ahead of its US launch next month.
The Tesla Model 3 shipped to New Zealand is a
left-hand drive. New Zealand is a right-hand drive market and Tesla Motors CEO
Elon Musk has said that the company won’t have the RHD Tesla Model 3 ready
before next summer, i.e. before June 2018. Among many possibilities is that the
car is shipped to New Zealand for winter testing at the Southern Hemisphere
Proving Grounds that has the window open between June and September. Maybe the
company wants to test the Model 3 AWD there, which is expected to enter
production only next year, or new hardware.
The Tesla Model 3 will reportedly sell in 55 kWh and
70 kWh battery pack versions. The base model will have a driving range of over
215 miles (346 km) and a 0-97 km/h acceleration time of 5.6
seconds. The 4696 mm zero emissions sedan has a body made of
aluminium and steel and houses a 15-inch central touchscreen on the dashboard.
Buyers will get to choose from up to 100 different configurations, with
features like fully autonomous driving, 19-inch wheels and glass roof.
Tesla Motors has confirmed that it will enter India
with the Tesla Model 3 but has not finalised the launch plans, and import
restrictive tax norms and poor charging infrastructure are partly to blame for
that. Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that he is in discussions with the Indian
government for temporary duty relief until a local facility is ready for
production.
