The Tesla Model 3 is nowhere to be seen, though the competition already seems to be on the prowl. It's the Chevy Bolt that is the latest to adversely affect Tesla's Model 3 plans, especially now that the Bolt has been certified by the EPA to have a range of 238 miles on a single charge. That's more than 20 miles more than the Model 3's estimated range.
That makes for about 10 percent more than what the Model 3 is believed to be capable of, Fortune stated. General Motors had earlier stated they expect the Bolt to drive around 200 miles on a full charge, though the EPA rating has certainly beaten their forecast.
Tesla had earlier launched the Model 3 amid a rousing reception with a projected range of 215 miles. That makes the Bolt 3 to have a significant range advantage over the Model 3, at least for now.
That is, of course, unless Tesla comes up with any means to squeeze out a few more miles out of the 60 kWh batteries that the Model 3 will come with. Interestingly, the new Bolt features a 60 kWh battery as well, which means an improvement for Model 3 range can't be ruled out.
However, another decisive advantage that the upcoming Bolt has over the Model 3 is the time they take to reach the market. While General Motors is yet to confirm a firm launch window, speculation is rife that the Bolt will be launched towards the end of this year itself. Unfortunately for Tesla fans, the Model 3 is not expected to reach the market before the end of 2017.
Tesla might still count on the strong brand loyalty it enjoys. The fact that the Model 3 has already gone for around 370,000 bookings can bring it some solace, though the easy availability of a competing brand for almost an entire year before it can launch the first Model 3 will no doubt be a source of worry for them.
That is not all as both the Bolt and Model 3 are priced around the same $35,000 price bracket, with both eligible for the government's $7,500 clean energy incentive, Bloomberg reported.
Eventually, it could boil down to the interior appointments and tech wizardry to determine customer preference. GM stated the new Bolt will be compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto besides being OnStar 4G LTE ready as well. There will also be a 10.2-inch touchscreen while offering inductive charging facility too.
The Model 3 will feature a more futuristic interior layout with a huge 15-inch touchscreen occupying the car's center console. It makes the 60 mph mark from rest in just 6.0 secs and also boasts of Tesla's proprietary Autopilot feature.
Overall, the Model 3 might seem to be more futuristic and has a different kind of aura to it. However, the very fact that it would be almost a year late to the market might wipe off some sheen off it, if not all.
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