A few weeks ago, Tesla brought CleanTechnica inside its Fremont automotive factory in Northern California for a custom tour of its Model 3 production line and gave an exclusive look at its in-house seat factory a few blocks away. This week, we are launching our final video from our visit to the Fremont factory, where Chanan Bos takes us into Tesla’s body shop and general assembly areas.
For this piece, I will use the information on Tesla’s website to determine if paying cash, taking a loan, or leasing is the best option if you want a Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (SR+). The twist here is I did these calculations for Switzerland, Norway, the Netherlands, China, and the UK. These were some of the most popular markets for Tesla in Q1 2019. I added in the UK, since it has been suffering for 3 years and deserves some attention.
Sometimes, in order to find the truth that we did not find from facts, statistics, or specifications, we need to step aside and look at a topic in a different way and from a different angle. That’s what this love letter is about – it’s about experiencing a new perspective.
It’s time for another monthly checkup on US auto sales. Surprisingly, more than a million people are still buying the 21st century equivalent of horses every month. I think the most interesting takeaway, though, is quickly running through the companies and car divisions that saw their sales drop last month (compared to the same month in 2018) and then the companies and car divisions that saw their sales rise.
I recently published some cost comparisons between the Tesla Model 3 and various Honda Accord trims. As I implied at the time, these models shouldn’t even be in the same discussion since the Model 3 is a much better vehicle (safer, quicker, more advanced tech, better handling), but the fact is that they do compare when it comes to 5 year cost of ownership. However, when I published the previous comparisons, I didn’t include the cost of interest if you took out an auto loan to finance the purchase.
The most popular CleanTechnica articles of the past week included an original analysis of used Tesla Model 3s versus some of the used gasmobiles it competes against, a 380 mile used Nissan LEAF upgrade, a showering of love for Tesla’s motors from a top auto industry expert, and much more.
After the company’s bumpy first quarter, Tesla’s share price has experienced a dizzying rollercoaster ride. All across financial news media outlets, the narrative surrounding the company continues to feed off of FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt). And much of it appears to be echoed by Wall Street analysts who cover the stock. Some influential investors, however, see things differently.
Tesla Insurance will increase customer satisfaction.
I’ve got another report here comparing the Tesla Model 3 to a top selling car in the USA.The Model 3 was the 5th best selling car in the USA in the second half of 2018, the 11th best in all of 2018, and the 13th best in the first quarter of 2019. The Toyota Camry was the top selling car in the USA in 2018 and has long been at or near the top of the list.
By all accounts, Teslas are technological marvels, safe, dependable, and fun to drive. But cheap? Well, there’s no question that an EV will save you money on fuel and maintenance compared to a legacy vehicle. And a Tesla isn’t a particularly expensive vehicle if your alternative is a BMW, a Mercedes, or an Audi, the brands to which the Californian EV is usually compared.
