Block Tesla and see who are the competitors of Model 3

Tesla's recently released Model 3 entry-level electric car can be said to have become a new star in the entire electric vehicle field. Its price is only $35,000 (about RMB 229,000), and although production will not start until the end of next year, the current reservation volume has exceeded 400,000.

Model 3 has taken the lead in the future entry-level electric vehicle market with its cool appearance, futuristic floating central control screen, 3.7 seconds acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h and low price. However, traditional car manufacturers will never let Tesla "run wild" on their territory, so they have also launched their own cheap electric vehicle products or revealed related plans.

As direct competitors of Model 3, which models will compete directly with Tesla in the future and may even surpass Tesla's position in the electric vehicle market? Let's take a look.

BMW i3

Judging from the products that have been released or are on sale, the BMW i3 is definitely the number one competitor of the future Model 3. Not only are Tesla and BMW both positioned as luxury brands, but they are also basically at the same level in terms of price, performance and brand level.

The BMW i3 is an electric car that was launched in 2014, with a starting price of $43,350 (about RMB 283,000). The i3 is made of carbon fiber composite materials and aluminum, and has a very unique appearance, making it a very popular electric car on the market.

According to BMW, an upgraded version of the i3 will be launched this summer. The new car will upgrade the battery components and electronic components, and the range will be increased by about 50%, reaching 190 kilometers. In terms of basic performance, the i3 accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers in 6.5 seconds, which is also very good. The BMW i3 has become the biggest rival of the Model 3 in the competition for high-end users.

Nissan Leaf

As the best-selling pure electric vehicle in North America, Nissan Leaf can be said to have inherited the excellent tradition of Japanese models, which is cheap, durable and quite reliable. Leaf has been mass-produced since 2010 and has always been the number one in the sales of cheap electric vehicles in the North American market. After years of production and improvement, the technology of the entire platform is now quite mature.

In 2016, Nissan also updated the latest generation of Leaf. Although it was only a partial adjustment, the battery capacity was still increased from the previous 24kWh to 30kWh, an increase of 27%. At the same time, the 2016 Leaf's range has reached 172 kilometers, almost becoming the highest level among cheap electric vehicles.

Price is also the biggest advantage of Nissan Leaf. The starting price of the latest 2016 Leaf is US$12,510 (about RMB 137,000), which is almost two-thirds of Model 3. Therefore, for the entry-level electric vehicle market, Leaf will become the most competitive rival of Model 3 in terms of price.

Chevrolet Bolt

If there's a product that's closer to the Model 3 in terms of performance and price, between the higher-end BMW i3 and the cheaper Nissan Leaf, it's the Chevrolet Bolt.

Chevrolet Bolt announced more information about the production version at CES earlier this year. It is reported that Bolt will start mass production at the end of this year, with a maximum range of 322 kilometers. It can be said that such performance is very worth looking forward to.

Compared with the Nissan Leaf, the Chevrolet Bolt will have more technological elements. Although the central control screen is not as exaggerated as that of the Model 3, it is also equipped with a 10.2-inch touch screen and integrates functions such as remote control start and air conditioning control. In addition, the Bolt is also equipped with a camera rearview mirror, which can not only monitor the situation outside the car, but also act as a camera to shoot 80-degree scenes inside the car.

Finally, the price. The Model 3 is priced at $35,000, while the Chevrolet Bolt is priced at $37,500 (approximately RMB 245,000). The two are very close, so the Bolt will become the Model 3's closest and most challenging competitor.

Volkswagen e-Golf

Also at CES earlier this year, Volkswagen of Germany also brought the latest generation of e-Golf Touch electric car. Compared with the ordinary electric version of Golf, its biggest difference is the addition of gesture control function. In addition to gesture control, this e-Golf Touch is also equipped with a 9.2-inch large screen and wireless charging function.

The e-Golf Touch is mainly used to demonstrate Volkswagen's gesture control and modular custom infotainment platform, and these features will be more widely used in other models in the future. Finally, the car will also be equipped with an inductive wireless charging module to facilitate wireless charging in the future.

In terms of performance, the e-Golf has a top speed of 140km/h, an acceleration time of 100km/h of 10.4 seconds, and a range of 130 to 190km. The starting price of the e-Golf is US$33,450 (approximately RMB 210,000), which is very close to the Model 3.

Renault Zoe

Renault Zoe is an entry-level electric car with a similar positioning to Nissan Leaf. In addition to its dynamic and stylish appearance, it has a range of up to 240 kilometers. This is definitely another economical and affordable choice for white-collar workers who need to commute to get off work in the city every day.

As a representative of French electric vehicles, Renault Zoe is priced at $19,000 (about RMB 124,000) and is almost the most cost-effective model at present. Although performance and speed are not Zoe's strong points, for those who pursue practicality and simply use it for transportation, Renault Zoe is undoubtedly more attractive than Model 3.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.