The first of the Model 3 deliveries in Dublin.

The new and more affordable family saloon from Tesla that garnered more than 325,000 first-week global reservations has made its way to into Irish customer’s hands. 

We shared their excitement as they switched to a greener way of motoring and transitioned to sustainable transport. 

Two of the first Irish customers were John Burke, managing director and owner of Burke’s Hardware & DIY, who lives in Wicklow town, a self-confessed petrol head, motor racing enthusiast who has made the shift to electric and Peter Harte, original Roadster owner who has added a Model 3 to his EV family.

Some interesting stats: 

With over 16 billion kms driven by Tesla vehicles, over 3.9 million tons of CO2 has been saved by Tesla vehicle owners.

Tesla has delivered over 500,000 cars worldwide and with nearly 140,000 units sold, Model 3 was the best-selling premium vehicle (including SUVs) in the US for 2018 – the first time in decades an American carmaker has been able to secure the top spot. 

Tesla’s executive saloon Model S and Model X SUV first came to Ireland in 2017 when Tesla opened its store and service centre in Sandyford, Dublin.

There are three Supercharger locations in Ireland with further sites planned and a network of over 40 Destination Charging locations. 

Tesla’s charging networks allow owners to travel from Ireland to all over Europe.

Tesla has recently added a mobile service offering to Ireland, which saves customers the time of travelling to and from a service centre, and help remove 80% of the volume from service centres.

Learn more about Tesla’s innovative approach to service here: www.tesla.com/service.

John Burke with his Model 3.

Model 3 Specifications below:  

Model 3 is Tesla’s smaller, simpler, more affordable car. Designed and built as the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle, it is a critical step in Tesla’s mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. 

Model 3 combines industry-leading powertrain efficiency, aerodynamics and chassis technology to deliver the longest range of any comparable electric saloon Model 3’s powertrain technology has been designed for ultra-high endurance, and Tesla has proven its technology over more than 16 billion kms of real-world driving across its global fleet of vehicles. 

Range and Charging

Model 3 has a range of up to 560 km WLTP with the Long Range variant. For most Tesla owners, home charging provides plenty of range for daily travel.

For long distance travel, the Supercharger network allows Tesla owners to conveniently charge on major routes across Europe. 

All Model 3 customers have pay-per-use access to our Supercharger network, which is reserved specifically for Tesla owners; there are more than 430 Supercharger locations with over 3600 Superchargers in Europe and growing constantly. 

Plus, with the Destination Charging programme, Tesla owners have access to an additional network of chargers at business, travel and leisure destinations. 

In Europe, Model 3 also comes with a built-in CCS Charge Port for compatibility with third party fast charging networks, giving our customers the most charging flexibility compared to any EV on the market. 

In Car Technology

The 15” centre touchscreen seamlessly integrates media, navigation, communications, cabin control and vehicle data into one intuitive interface. Over-the-air software updates add functionality, enhance performance and improve the driving experience of Tesla vehicles.

Similarly to how you receive updates to your smartphone, Model 3 owners receive updates to their car remotely without visiting a service centre.

Peter Harte with his Model 3.

Options 

The Model 3 Standard Range Plus starts from €48,900, Model 3 Long Range from €57,990 and Model 3 Performance from €61,990. Model 3 has five colour options with Pearl White Multi-Coat included as standard.

Solid Black is available at €800 with metallic colours, Midnight Silver and Deep Blue, available for €1,100 and Red Multi-Coat Red is available at €2,200. 

Model 3 comes as standard with all black premium ‘vegan’ leather interior or €1,050 for with the white and black premium ‘vegan’ interior option. 

Autopilot is also included as standard, which, under active driver supervision, enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically for other vehicles and pedestrians within its lane.  

Built for Safety

Model 3 is built for safety, with standard active safety features and hardware built to provide visibility that a driver cannot access alone. Eight surround cameras allow for 360-degree vision, while twelve ultrasonic sensors provide detection of surrounding objects.

Forward-facing radar see through heavy rain, fog, dust, and beyond the vehicle ahead—helping to prevent accidents by providing simultaneous visibility in every direction.

Model 3 achieved 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating in every category with the highest ever score in the latest Safety Assist tests.

Total Cost of Ownership

Electric vehicles are less expensive to fuel than petrol powered vehicles, with the cost of electricity up to seven times lower than petrol. Teslas also require significantly less maintenance than traditional vehicles due to their reduced mechanical complexity and fewer moving parts. 

With no annual service required, owners only need to bring their cars in to check certain components at specific intervals, keeping vehicles on the road for longer and eliminating the need for annual service checkups. 

Performance 

Model 3 Performance is the quickest car in its class, capable of achieving 0-100 kph in 3.4s. It has a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution and Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive for enhanced performance and traction in any weather. 

Model 3 Performance has an increased top speed of 261 kph along with a carbon fibre spoiler, 20” performance wheels, and aluminum alloy pedals for maximum handling and improved stability.

Model 3 Performance also includes red performance brake calipers and the exclusive feature, Track Mode.  

Model 3 specs at a glance: 

*Includes destination and documentation fee of € 980, VAT, Vehicle Registration Tax and SEAI grant.