Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/916779
maltatoday, SUNDAY 17 DECEMBER 2017 IV Motoring Tesla Model 3 production soars to 5,000 electric cars per week THE Tesla Model 3 might be the most exciting car chief Elon Musk has ever unveiled – apart from the new Roadster, perhaps – but it's been plagued with produc- tion problems. Tesla simply hasn't been able hit its produc- tion targets, and the situation has led Musk to describe the last few months as 'production hell.' However, new reports suggest Tesla has finally begun to turn a corner in Model 3 production, and has increased its output to around 5,000 cars per week. With any luck, Tesla should now be able to hit its production targets more easily. After bot- tlenecks in the past few months, Tesla Gigafactories need to de- liver units, and it'll be even more important when the Roadster and Tesla Semi truck hit the produc- tion line. There's still a long wait for buy- ers wanting to purchase a Tesla Model 3, and right-hand drive sales won't kick off until early 2019. And then there's a waiting list of between 12 to 18 months, as the company fulfils the huge backlog of orders caused by the 373,000 deposits placed at launch. Don't expect to see many Model 3s on Maltese roads any time soon... The new Tesla Model 3 has gone on sale, with the first cars reaching customers in the US costing from $35,000 apiece. The entry-level saloon is claimed to have a range of at least 220 miles and customers can upgrade to a bigger battery for a 310-mile range. They're quick too; 0-60mph is quoted as 5.6sec or 5.1sec for the punchier battery model. Customers queued in droves to place deposits to secure an order slot for a Model 3 when it was first announced. Before the car had been revealed, in 24 hours alone, a total of 115,000 pre- orders were placed. The deposit amount varied depending on your country; for example, it was $1,000 in the US, but £1,000 in the UK. A total of half a million pre-or- ders have been placed, according to Tesla - arguably making it one of the most successful product launches of all time. To meet that demand, the company will start building 100 cars a month in Au- gust, rising to 1500 in September and 20,000 monthly by December 2017. The Model 3's rivals One key rival for the Tesla Model 3 is the Chevrolet Bolt. Much like the Tesla, the Bolt is aimed at making electric motor- ing a more affordable, viable option. It's a similarly specified car, too. Chevrolet claims a range of around 200 miles from a single charge, while the 0-60mph sprint is dispatched in 7.0sec. Those looking to spend less still could consider the Nissan Leaf, but both the Model 3 and Bolt offer a range that's around 100 miles greater than the Leaf's, making them a far more practical option – and both are less costly than the BMW i3. However, the BMW i3's trump card is that it's available with a range extender, meaning buyers wouldn't have to rely solely on the car's battery to reach their destination. The entry- level saloon is claimed to have a range of at least 220 miles and customers can upgrade to a bigger battery for a 310-mile range