On Thursday, Tesla announced that it would eliminate most of its stores and move to an online-only ordering model.
It's unclear whether this plan will work in the US, given the prevalence of franchised auto dealers who have traditionally opposed direct sales.
There was a lot of speculation about what Tesla CEO Elon Musk would announce this week after he tweeted that some big news was coming.The top news was the arrival of the long-awaited $35,000 Model 3, the true mass-market vehicle that Tesla promised in 2016 but hasn't been able to deliver until now."You can now buy a Tesla in North America via your phone in about 1 minute, and that capability will soon be extended worldwide," the carmaker said in a statement.
"Shifting all sales online, combined with other ongoing cost efficiencies, will enable us to lower all vehicle prices by about 6% on average, allowing us to achieve the $35,000 Model 3 price point earlier than we expected. Over the next few months, we will be winding down many of our stores, with a small number of stores in high-traffic locations remaining as galleries, showcases and Tesla information centers.
It's not clear how Tesla will achieve this e-tailing objective in the face of the resistance it has traditionally faced from franchised auto dealers in various US states. It is possible to configure and price a vehicle via a manufacturer's website, but a customer must complete the deal by connecting with a dealership."We are also making it much easier to try out and return a Tesla, so that a test drive prior to purchase isn't needed," the company said.
"You can now return a car within 7 days or 1,000 miles for a full refund. Quite literally, you could buy a Tesla, drive several hundred miles for a weekend road trip with friends and then return it for free. With the highest consumer satisfaction score of any car on the road, we are confident you will want to keep your Model 3."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Elon Musk plans to announce some Tesla news on Thursday — here’s what Wall Street is expectingThe billionaire's spat with the SEC has created a buying opportunity, one analyst said.
Read more »
Tesla starts selling $35,000 Model 3 for delivery in two-four weeksTesla Inc's website showed on Thursday that the electric vehicle maker will...
Read more »
Tesla starts Model 3 delivery in China earlier than expectedTesla Inc has started delivering Model 3 cars in China slightly ahead of schedul...
Read more »
Tesla Model 3 can no longer be recommended, says Consumer ReportsTesla stock drops as Consumer Reports blasts the electric sedan's 'declining reliability.'
Read more »
Tesla rolls out Model 3 in China ahead of schedule in sales pushTesla Inc has started delivering Model 3 cars in China slightly ahead of schedul...
Read more »
First Tesla Model 3s Zoom Into China, Outracing Tariff ThreatChina’s first Model 3 owners have taken express delivery of their new cars after the electric-car maker rushed a boatload of vehicles across the Pacific to beat a looming tariff deadline.
Read more »