Tesla's $35,000 Model 3 Will Be Available for Pre-Order on March 31 Tweets by CEO Elon Musk followed a note in the company's earnings release on Wednesday that the Model 3 is on schedule for deliveries in late 2017.

By Arjun Kharpal

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Jonathan Weiss | Shutterstock.com

Tesla's entry-level $35,000 Model 3 electric car will be available for pre-order on March 31, chief executive Elon Musk announced Thursday on Twitter.

The tweets by the billionaire followed a note in the company's earnings release on Wednesday that the Model 3 is on schedule for deliveries in late 2017.

Tesla plans to begin installing production machinery this year.

In his tweets, Musk said consumers could begin preorders next month with a $1,000 deposit.

He also confirmed the rumored $35,000 price tag.

The Model 3 is Tesla's entry-level offering, whereas the Model S and Model X SUV carry hefty price tags.

Musk also announced that the company would not be releasing a "signature" version of the Model 3. Signature versions of the Model S and X were put on sale and came fully loaded with the top features. A signature Model X costs around $130,000.

Tesla hopes the Model 3 will help boost its sale figures and increase the number of its electric vehicles on the road. The company posted positive 2016 guidance on Wednesday, saying it expects to deliver 80,000 to 90,000 new vehicles this year, noting it is aiming for non-GAAP profitability for the year. This was above Wall Street estimates.

Analysts said that Model 3 demand will be high due to its cheaper price, but Tesla will still need to push consumers to take the leap of faith on electric cars.

"We expect demand for that to also be high," ISI Group auto analyst George Galliers told CNBC on Thursday.

"The challenge at the moment for electric cars is really encouraging the public to try them, experience them, realize the benefits and also to get over that misconception around range anxiety," he said. "People think that there's nowhere to charge them. The reality is if you have off-street parking, you can of course charge it at home every night."

News Assistant, CNBC EU News Digital Team

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Innovation

4 Ways Market Leaders Use Innovation to Foster Business Growth

Forward-thinkers constantly strive to diversify and streamline their products and services, turning novelties into commodities desired by many.

Operations & Logistics

How to Master Peak Season Sales — and Demand — With These Warehouse Tips

In today's unpredictable retail world, the ability to handle atypical peak seasons effectively is a critical differentiator. Here's how you can streamline and optimize your warehouse operations.

Leadership

'Scaring People Is Addictive': The Creator of 'Wolf Man' and 'Saw' on Monetizing Your Nightmares

The co-writer and director of "Wolf Man," Leigh Whannell, discusses how he built a career one terrifying flick at a time.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

A Company That Made $50M Selling Side Hustle Courses on AI Book Writing Is Under Federal Investigation

Publishing.com, which sells courses and tools for generating AI-written books, is under investigation for alleged aggressive sales tactics, according to a new report.