Tesla launches Model 3 RHD in UK, starting at £38,000

As Elon Musk announced last week, Tesla is launching its Model 3 right-hand-drive today starting in the UK.

Orders are now open and the first deliveries are going to happen in June, according to Tesla.

The UK is expected to be a big market for Model 3. Tesla’s sales of Model S and Model X vehicles grew steadily in the country, but they peaked in 2017 with 4,756 units based on registration data.

Last year, Tesla delivered only 3,372 electric vehicles in the UK, but it was enough to make it Tesla’s third biggest market in Europe.

This year, the UK is way down the list (9th) because all the other markets have received Model 3, but it should start climbing during the second half of the year.

With the launch of the Model 3 online configurator in the UK, Tesla sent out configuration invites to reservation holders for a June delivery, but it looks like anyone can go on the configurator and also order for a June delivery.

The Model 3 starts at £38,050 in UK:

It appears to include the £3,500 Plug In Car Grant offered by the government. Unlike in other markets, the incentive is applied directly by the manufacturer in the UK.

Also unlike in other markets, Tesla is not leading with the price after gas savings.

It’s unclear if the cheaper Model 3 Standard Range version is already available as an ‘off-the-menu’ item in the UK yet.

Electrek’s Take

I see the Model 3 becoming quite popular in the UK. The segment itself is extremely popular in the UK and in my opinion, the Model 3 is by far the best car in it.

I’m even willing to make the prediction that Tesla could sell more Model 3s in the UK by the end of the year then Model S and Model X vehicles combined in the last 2 years.

One thing worth noting is that the launch in the UK highlights that having a reservation for an upcoming Tesla vehicle doesn’t matter much. For most people, it didn’t make much of a difference in most markets, but in the UK specifically, it looks like a reservation literally did nothing since everyone has been invited to configure at the same time for deliveries in June.

I think people should take note of that next time Tesla launches a reservation program.

As for the price, I am not sure what UK buyers were expecting. Let me know in the comment section below if that’s in line or not with your expectations.