Tesla Model S (Photo : Facebook )
Tesla has received nearly 400,000 Model 3 reservations, which includes cancellations and possible violations of the pre-order limit of two cars per person. However, since production of the entry-level electric vehicle (EV) is a year away, CEO Elon Musk's company is asking reservation holders to consider buying a Tesla S base model. The Model S 60 version of the electric car has a $66,000 price tag, while the Model 3's base price is $35,000.
Meanwhile, Tesla's all-wheel drive 60D is about twice the price of the all-electric Model 3. It costs $71,000.
Tesla has been sending an email to people who reserved the next Tesla model. It was shared online by a member of the Tesla Motors Club.
The email invited possible Model 3 owners to try out a Model S 60 or 60D at a Tesla dealership. A copy of the email from the carmaker was reportedly sent to reservation holders in the United States and Canada, according to CarBuzz.
The US automaker also shared a blog post from a Model 3 customer who decided to surprise his wife with a Model S. He bought a high-end P90D sedan.
It is a shrewd and fair marketing move for the e-car manufacturer to get customers into a new Tesla car as soon as possible. However, a Model S 60 is a price jump of about $30,000. It will be interesting to see how many people cancel their Model 3 reservations to get behind the wheel of an older and pricier Tesla model.
However, Tesla still wants to thank people who waited in line at Tesla stores to place their pre-orders for the Model 3's unveiling on March 31. Musk tweeted he thought up to 30 people would line up per store. Instead, around 180,000 Model 3 reservations were made in 24 hours.
Seth Barrial received his "token of appreciation" in the mail this weekend. It was a hand-sketched drawing of the Model 3 and a note from Musk, according to Teslarati. The sketches seem to be the same ones that Tesla's Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen passed out at the Model 3 unveiling event.
Musk has encouraged Tesla fans to order their Model 3 unit as soon as possible. That will help to guarantee their shiny new car will be delivered in 2018.
Here's a video about the Tesla Model 3:
