First look at the Tesla Model 3 online configurator

Following yesterday’s event where Tesla delivered the first few Model 3 production units to employees, more of them have now access to an online configurator in order to convert their priority reservations (as employees) into actual orders.

Here we take a quick look at this new online design studio.

While Tesla delivered only 30 cars yesterday, it is expected to significantly ramp up production in the next few months and they need a few reservation holders to actually configure their cars in order to prepare for it.

Tesla released all (almost all) the production specs of the Model 3 yesterday, but the availability of the different options are having a great impact on the ordering process.

Arguably, the Model 3’s main feature was its $35,000 starting price, but no one can place an order coming close to that price right now.

At the moment, employees have to pay a minimum of $49,000 because only the ‘long range’ battery option for a $9,000 is in production as well as the glass roof, which is part of a $5,000 “premium package”.

They are being asked to configure that car or wait for the cheaper options coming this fall – or even the dual motor coming even later (picture via @we_drive_at):

If they decide to go with the Model 3 long range with premium package, they are asked to configure the vehicle, which basically consists of choosing a color, wheels, and to add the Enhanced Autopilot or Full Self-Driving features.

Here are a few pictures of the configurator via @sfmatinlin:

As you can see, the price adds up quickly when going fully equipped.

Right now, it looks like the online design studio is only available to employees. During previous vehicle launches, Tesla gradually invited more reservations holders to access the design studio as it was expanding its range of deliveries in new regions.

Musk previously said that he expects only about 150 deliveries next month so it will likely remain mostly just employees.

But if Tesla stays on track to reach 5,000 units per week in December, it should soon open up the online configurator to more reservation holders.