

Tesla Model 3
Tesla increases December’s unexpected discount of U.S. Model 3 & Y to $7,500
On December 1st, Tesla unexpectedly discounted inventory of Model 3 and Y vehicles by $3,750 for customers willing to purchase Models 3s and Ys that were already in inventory by the end of the year. That discount has gone up to $7,500 and includes 10,000 free Supercharging miles.
Twitter user @Wang_made initially shared the news and screenshots from Tesla, which also shows this offer on its website.
— DennisCW | wen juniper (@DennisCW_) December 22, 2022
On its website, Tesla said that it is adding up to 10,000 miles of Supercharging credits for customers who take delivery of a new Tesla vehicle between December 15 and December 31. The free credits will be credited to the owner’s Tesla account in January 2023 and will remain valid for two years from the delivery date.

For owners purchasing a base Model 3, the price would be whatever the cost is after incentives and the $,7500 discount.
The discount comes in time for the holiday season, which is one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year globally. With Christmas only four days away, Tesla’s discount is a clear end-of-quarter and end-of-the-year push for sales.
Tesla is working to beat its 2021 record of producing and delivering over 1 million units. During Tesla’s Q1 2022 earnings call, Elon Musk emphasized that the goal was to produce 20 million units annually. This was before Giga Texas opened and a few months after Giga Berlin opened. He also said that it seemed likely that Tesla would be able to produce over one and a half million cars this year.
Tesla may reach the goal Elon Musk set for it during that call. In China, the company has had a busy fourth quarter with a steady stream of transport ships loading vehicles since the quarter started. In Germany, Tesla Giga Berlin just recently began producing 3,000 Model Ys on a weekly basis and is began operating with three shifts.
Disclosure: Johnna is a $TSLA shareholder and believes in Tesla’s mission.
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Elon Musk
Tesla Model 3 wins ‘most economical EV to own’ title in new study
The Tesla Model 3 has captured another crown in a recent study showing the most cost-effective EVs

The Tesla Model 3 recently captured the title of “most economical electric vehicle to own” in a new study performed by research firm Zutobi.
Perhaps one of the biggest and most popular reasons people are switching to EVs is the cost savings. Combining home charging, lower maintenance costs, and tax credits has all enabled consumers to consider EVs as a way to save money on their daily drivers. However, there are some EVs that are more efficient and cost-effective than others.
Tesla police fleet saves nearly half a million in upkeep and repair costs
Zutobi‘s new study shows that EV cost-effectiveness comes at different levels. For example, some cars are simply better than others on a cost-per-mile basis. The study used a simple process to determine which EVs are more cost-effective than others by showing how much it would cost to drive 100 miles.
National averages for energy rates have been used to calculate the cost as they widely vary from state to state.
The Rear-Wheel Drive Tesla Model 3 was listed as the most economical vehicle in the study:
“The standard Tesla Model 3 is the most economical electric vehicle to drive in 2025. With a usable battery capacity of 57.5 kWh and a real-world range of 260 miles, it costs just $3.60 to drive 100 miles. That translates to an impressive 2,781 miles per $100 of electricity—making it the most efficient choice for EV owners nationwide.”
It had an estimated cost of just $3.60 to drive 100 miles.
The Tesla Model 3 Long Range All-Wheel Drive was second, the study showed:
“Next is the Long Range version of the Model 3, which offers extended range and dual-motor all-wheel drive. With a larger 75 kWh battery and 325 miles of range, the cost to drive 100 miles is slightly higher at $3.75, still equating to a strong 2,665 miles per $100.”
This version of the Model 3 had a price of just $3.75 to drive 100 miles.
In third, the BMW i4 eDrive35 surprised us with a cost of just $4.12 to drive 100 miles:
“Rounding out the top three is the BMW i4 eDrive35, with a 67.1 kWh battery and a real-world range of 265 miles. Drivers can expect to pay $4.12 per 100 miles, which still allows for 2,429 miles per $100—a solid choice for those seeking luxury and efficiency.”
Several other Teslas made the list as well. The Model 3 Performance ($4.34 per 100 miles) was sixth and tied with the Volkswagen ID.3 Pure, the Tesla Model S Long Range ($4.35 per 100 miles) was 8th, and the Tesla Model Y Long Range was ninth ($4.36 per 100 miles).
News
Tesla ships software fix for Model 3 and Model Y power steering issue

Tesla is shipping a software fix for 2023 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles that could potentially have a power steering issue.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) uses the term “recall” for the issue because, by definition, it is an “unreasonable safety risk or fails to meet minimum safety standards.”
It is worth noting that the NHTSA does recognize that it is a software update on its official website with a new badge that it recently started placing on these types of fixes.
However, the power steering issue is being resolved through an Over-the-Air software update, which will not require physical service from Tesla, and will be fixed through an internet connection.
The issue is impacting an estimated 376,241 Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles operating software prior to 2023.38.4. The NHTSA writes on its website that:
“The printed circuit board for the electronic power steering assist may experience an overstress condition, causing a loss of power steering assist when the vehicle reaches a stop and then accelerates again.”
The agencies 573 report continues:
“By design, if the overstress condition occurs while the vehicle is traveling above 0 MPH, steering efforts will not be affected, and a visual alert will illuminate. Once the vehicle speed reaches 0 MPH, a loss of EPAS may occur, and loss of EPAS will persist when the vehicle is driven above 0 MPH. Manual steering without EPAS remains available to the driver.”
As of January 10, Tesla says it has received 3,012 warranty claims and 570 field reports relating to the issue, but it is not aware of any accidents or deaths due to the problem.
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News
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y attract most interest from luxury car buyers: study

A new study from the online lending service marketplace LendingTree has put a spotlight on Tesla’s popularity among car buyers looking for a luxury vehicle. From January through November 2024, the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 received the most loan inquiries from car buyers looking to acquire a luxury vehicle.
The study:
- For its study, LendingTree analyzed over 1 million auto loan inquiries for passenger vehicles from January 1 to November 30, 2024.
- To determine which luxury vehicles were most popular among car shoppers, LendingTree took a luxury vehicle make’s total number of queries and divided it by the total number of luxury vehicle queries during the study’s period.
- Carfax’s “Complete Guide to Luxury Car Brands” was used to determine which car brands were considered luxury. Tesla is included in the list.

The Model Y and Model 3’s results:
- As per LendingTree’s study, Tesla’s two mainstream vehicles attracted the top interest among car buyers looking to acquire a luxury car.
- The Tesla Model Y claimed the top spot in the study, with 6.8% of luxury vehicle loan queries being centered on the best-selling all-electric crossover.
- The Tesla Model 3 followed closely at 5.6%, which is quite impressive considering that the vehicle is a sedan.
- Overall, Tesla was the study’s second most sought-after luxury brand after BMW, though this was partly due to the company’s significantly smaller vehicle lineup.
- BMW captured 16.6% of luxury brand queries in the study, while Tesla captured 15.8%.
- This means that Tesla beat out Mercedes-Benz and Lexus, which captured 12.0% and 11.1% of luxury brand inquiries, respectively.

Why it matters:
- As per LendingTree, a good reason behind the popularity of the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 among luxury car buyers may be the vehicles’ reasonable price.
- Despite Tesla being considered a luxury brand, the Model Y and Model 3 are priced very competitively.
- The 2024 Model Y starts at a reasonable $44,990. The Model 3 is even more budget-friendly, praised by Kelley Blue Book as a “bargain among electric sedans” at its price.


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