WASHINGTON: Tesla recently said it would close most of its physical stores and switch to selling its cars online. The aim is to achieve a lower Model 3 price of US$35,000 in the US, a measure that will also largely eliminate the possibility of test drives.
The big advantage, said Tesla boss Elon Musk, is that a customer can buy a car in a minute on his smartphone.
"You can now buy a Tesla in North America via your phone in about 1 minute, and that capability will soon be extended worldwide," Musk said in a blog entry, touting the convenience of being able to purchase a car over the Internet.
Musk said it will be easier to return a freshly purchased Tesla. Within a week and with up to 1,600 km on the clock, you can still get the full price back.
Tesla had started deliveries of the Model 3 in 2017 - initially with upgraded, more expensive versions, the price of which could reach around US$70,000. The cheapest version in the US previously cost around US$43,000 dollars (excluding taxes).
In Germany, meanwhile, drivers have for several weeks been able to order Model 3 variants with long-distance battery and all-wheel drive starting at €55,400 and a sportier performance version starting at €66,100.
After Europe and Asia, the cheapest version of the Model 3 will be available in three to six months.
The carmaker said the change to online sales means over the next few months it will close many of its stores. The company has more than 100 across the United States and dozens more in other countries.
Only a small number will remain open in high-traffic locations and will serve as "showcases and Tesla information centres," Tesla said in a blog post by Musk.
Tesla has been promising the price, which is about US$10,000 less than the current price, since it unveiled the mid-size sedan in 2016.
