Elon Musk confirms Tesla Model 3 launch by end of July

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk has announced on Twitter the exact launch date of their entry-level offering, the Model 3. Aimed to compete against premium D-segment sedans such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Musk said that the first 30 units will be handed over on July 28. The CEO added that the first Model 3 is expected to roll off the assembly line this Friday.

It has been a year since the Model 3 was first unveiled so don't expect drastic changes on the customer units. The exterior features cues from its larger counterpart, the Model S. It gets upswept headlights, a fastback body and flush door handles. With no engine in front, the Model 3 also features a 'frunk', boosting the sedan's practicality.

According to Tesla, the Model 3 can fit five tall adults thanks to the packaging of the electric motors and batteries. A novelty in the Model 3 is the lack of an instrument cluster. Instead, vehicle readouts, like the speedometer and battery charge level, have been moved to the corner of a massive 15-inch horizontal floating center dash display. This display dedicates most of its area to navigation and entertainment functions. It's cantilevered above a center console with flush compartment covers.

At the moment, powertrain details have yet to be announced. During the launch last year, Musk said that the Model 3 has a range of at least 346 km on a full charge. Also, supercharging support is standard and includes Autopilot plus a slew of safety features. Tesla adds that the Model 3 can do the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in under 6 seconds.

As it stands, the waiting list for the Tesla Model 3 is at 400,000 customers. The first 30 customers will be getting their cars during a special event in Santa Barbara, California.