Tesla Model 3 superiority over other premium mid-size sedans, company founder Elon Musk at the quarterly reporting conference fresh statistics. In the first quarter, an electric car of this model became the most popular vehicle in the premium segment in the United States, surpassing the nearest competitor in terms of sales by 60%. Among Model 3 buyers with a standard-capacity battery, 70% of car owners have previously driven non-premium vehicles. Many of them have never paid so much for a new vehicle before.
The average selling price of the Model 3 in the US remains at $50, and most buyers opt for the extended range trim. Musk later explained that the base version of the Tesla Model 000 is generally chosen by a few percent of buyers. In Norway, where the brand's electric cars are very popular, Tesla Model 3s were sold in March in a way that no other car in this country could ever boast of. A similar situation was observed in Switzerland. Musk expressed hope that over time, the Tesla Model 3 will be able to become the best-selling premium sedan in the world. And among electric vehicles of other brands, Tesla products now offer the longest range on a single charge.
Internal cannibalism after the appearance Tesla Model 3 not seen
One of the analysts invited to the quarterly reporting conference asked how the appearance of the Tesla Model 3 on sale affects the sales volumes of the brand's more expensive electric vehicles. Musk calmly stated that he did not observe the so-called "internal cannibalism" after the release of the Model 3. Only 3,5% of buyers exchange Model S for Model 3. The majority of Tesla Model S owners either switch to a more expensive configuration of the same model, or change to a Tesla Model X crossover.
Musk is ready to reward loyal customers. Existing owners of electric vehicles of this brand, when purchasing a Model S or Model X, can count on a one-time free upgrade, which involves software unlocking of more expensive electric vehicle options. For example, buyers Tesla Model S and Model X with extended range in higher trims can count on the free activation of Ludicrous Mode, which reduces acceleration time to sixty miles per hour (96 km/h).
Autopilot and insurance Tesla has its own ideas
At an investor event dedicated to Tesla's achievements in automating the process of driving an electric car, Elon Musk has already stated that in the event of a βrobotic taxiβ getting into a traffic accident, the company is ready to take on all legal responsibility to the victims in the future. Such determination to the head of Tesla adds confidence that accidents involving electric vehicles of the brand will occur extremely rarely. Already, automation is twice as safe as a live driver, and this figure will only improve.
To allow automatic taxis on public roads, Tesla will have to spend a lot of time and effort convincing lawmakers about the safety of such vehicles. Musk is convinced that the colossal statistics accumulated by the company of accident-free movement in semi-automatic mode will quickly remove all bureaucratic obstacles. At the end of 2020, the company expects to launch a robot taxi service in one of the countries of the world.
Since statistics are being collected for every Tesla electric vehicle now, the company is hatching the idea of ββββlaunching its own auto insurance program. Similar products with telematic transmission of information about the driving style of the driver have long been offered by insurance companies, but Tesla electric vehicles do not require additional equipment for this.
Musk said Tesla is already sharing statistics with some insurance companies, but will launch its own insurance program with flexible rates next year. Disciplined and careful drivers will pay the minimum for insurance, but the "reckless" will have to make a choice: either fork out for high risk, or settle down when driving.
Source: 3dnews.ru