10 electric cars that will challenge Tesla's Model 3
- Tesla is preparing to deliver its Model 3 sedan to Europe and China, which are expected to be important sources of growth for Model 3 sales.
- The Model 3 is essential to Tesla's long-term ambitions and quest for profitability. As Tesla begins to deliver the Model 3 to European and Chinese customers, a number of other automakers have or will introduce electric cars that will compete with the Model 3.
- They include the BMW Mini Electric, Volkswagen I.D, and Byton K-Byte.
Tesla is preparing to deliver its Model 3 sedan to Europe and China, which are expected to be important sources of growth for Model 3 sales.
The Model 3 was designed to broaden Tesla's customer base beyond the luxury segment and has generated significant demand since Tesla began taking reservations for it in March 2016. The vehicle has resulted in production and delivery bottlenecks while contributing to sales numbers that rival those of luxury competitors like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
As Tesla begins to deliver the Model 3 to European and Chinese customers, a number of other automakers have or will introduce electric cars that will compete with the Model 3. These are ten cars Tesla may have to worry about in the coming years.
Nissan says US customers will be able to purchase a new version of the Leaf with a longer range in the spring of 2019. Japanese dealerships will receive the vehicle in January, while European dealerships will receive it in mid-2019, according to Nissan.
That would be a major improvement over the 2018 Leaf, which has a range of 150 miles.
General Motors surprised many in 2015 by releasing an affordable electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Bolt, before Tesla. The 2019 Bolt starts at $37,495.
The Bolt has less range than the Model 3, which starts at 264 miles for the mid-range trim.
BMW has said it will have 12 all-electric vehicles for sale by 2025, including its Mini Electric, which is scheduled to hit dealerships near the end of 2019.
While the company hasn't released specs for the car, it has said that, unlike previous models, the Mini Electric won't have any chrome.
Subaru may release an all-electric crossover by 2021, but very little is known about the car at the moment. In August 2016, a Subaru spokesperson told Automotive News that if the company ends up building an electric car, it would probably build it on its Global Platform, like the 2017 Subaru Impreza, pictured above.
Subaru released the Crosstrek Hybrid, the automaker's first plug-in hybrid vehicle, in 2018.
Volkswagen says it will release its I.D. crossover SUV in 2020.
The ID Crozz will have two motors, 302 horsepower, and the ability to drive up to 300 miles per charge, Volkswagen has said.
In addition to the Crozz, Volkswagen also plans to release an electric compact car, the I.D., in 2020.
Volkswagen first said the I.D. will have 168 horsepower and a range between 249 and 373 miles, but publications that test drove a prototype of the vehicle in 2018 said the base version of the vehicle will have a range of around 206 miles, while another version with a range of around 310 miles.
Volkswagen has said the I.D. will be in the same price range as a Golf with similar specs and features. The Golf currently starts at a little over $20,000.
Ford has said it will release an all-electric crossover inspired by the Mustang in 2020.
Ford has said the vehicle will have a 300-mile range and an entry-level price under $40,000.
The Chinese electric vehicle startup Byton plans to bring its K-Byte electric sedan to market in 2021.
Byton co-founder Daniel Kirchert, who became the automaker's CEO in January, told Business Insider performance metrics are secondary to interior features like cabin space, touchscreens, and adjustable seats, and their ability to make a ride more comfortable.
But Kirchert said the K-Byte will have between 250-325 miles of range, depending on the trim.
Volvo will begin production of the Polestar 2 in 2019, according to The Verge.
The Polestar 2 will follow the high-end Polestar 1 hybrid coupe, pictured above, and will have around 400 horsepower and about 300 miles of range, according to The Verge.
Hyundai's Kona Electric crossover SUV is available in California and will expand next to other states that follow California's Zero Emission Vehicle program.
The Kona has 258 miles of range, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and starts at a little above $35,000.