Tesla has confirmed the $35,000 price-tag for its long-awaited Model 3 electric car is before a slew of tax incentives are deducted.
The official word from the e-car pioneer builds on hints from Elon Musk dropped over a year ago.
We can confirm it’s $35,000 before incentives,” a Tesla spokeswoman told Bloomberg. “We haven’t changed our minds.”
It means, with the potential for $10,000 in federal and state tax incentives, drivers may get the Model 3 sedan for just $25,000.
The Model 3, which will be officially unveiled in March, will be the first model deemed affordable for mainstream drivers.
The Model S starts at $70,000 pre-incentives, while the luxury SUV Model X starts at $80,000, also before any credits are applied.
Lowering that barrier to just $25,000 would put an e-car into the realms of affordability for millions more drivers.
See also: 5 Secret Model S features to get excited about
Recent reports have suggested the Model 3 will feature the same iPad-like centre console and boast the cabin site of a BMW 3 series.
Speculation has also suggested Musk’s company will look to recoup costs charging drivers for supercharging, which has been free for Models S and X.
A report from Electrek also claimed the company is planning to launch a second car, built on the same platform, which may be Model Y crossover model, previously hinted at by Musk.
In 2016, Tesla is facing increased competition in the sector. In particular from Chevrolet, which announced a fully electric version of the Chevy Bolt at CES 2016.
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Is an e-car on your radar this year? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.