Tesla may have just sparked an electric car revolution.
Elon Musk’s electric car company began production on its newest line, the $35,000 Model 3, on Friday. Tesla is aiming to be the first to produce a high-quality electric vehicle for a mass market.
Tesla’s CEO was the first to get its newest car but soon many others will have a chance to get behind the wheel, according to Bloomberg. Starting slow at first, the company plans to ramp up production to 20,000 cars per month by December.
Only 30 Model 3s will be released when the line officially launches on July 28.
The company has ambitious plans, hoping to quadruple the production rate for the Model 3 by the end of 2018. If Tesla hits that mark, Bloomberg reports it would produce more electric cars in one year than the world’s carmakers combined in 2016.
Tesla’s sales goal would be to eventually surpass that of the best-selling luxury cars in America, the Mercedes C-class and the BMW 3 Series.
For comparison, the Model 3 will accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.6 seconds—faster than its gas-guzzling rivals—and travels 215 miles on one charge. It also comes loaded with autopilot and high-speed charging technology, but available to use at an added cost.
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.
