Tesla Model 3 Right-Hand Drive Spotted In California, May Hit Stores Soon

Tesla Model 3 Right Hand Drive version may hit the market by the middle of the year and the model was spotted in California recently. This latest Tesla news was updated by a user Salty Peanuts to Reddit with a vivid photo.

That the Tesla Model 3 RHD spotted was not a mirrored image but a real one was apparent from the visible 4x4 logo on the Ford F-series visible through the windows of the Tesla car.

One minor difference could be the revised infotainment interface, showing through the Model 3's window with the speed display aligned to the right side of the screen in tune with the right-hand drive protocol.

As a manufacturer, Tesla has included a right-hand-drive version of its vehicles although the market supply comes a little late. One reason for the delayed arrival of RHD could be Tesla’s strategy on Model 3 to accord higher priority to higher-trim, more profitably specked cars at least in the first 6 to 7 quarters.

But Tesla Model 3 RHD has the enabler in the unique symmetrical dash that can ease production and boost volumes.

Rationale of RHD

According to an analyst, per Elon Musk Twitter promise and Tesla's website update, that delivery of RHD may happen in the second half of 2019 it is practical to assume that RHD Model 3s will hit the market sometime in the third quarter.

Model 3 is Tesla's first mass-produced model. One more compulsion in augmenting RHD Model 3 production is the goal of higher profit margins per vehicle.

Tesla’s focus on Model 3 RHD is also led by the objective of market expansion in the U.K, which is showing a good appetite for Tesla cars and Model 3. The rising popularity of Model 3 is boosting EV adoption in many new markets.

Tesla aiming for new markets with RHD

One of the reasons for the RHD aggression will be Tesla’s desire to tap the U. K market optimally, where it is showing some good demand.

Although, automotive analyst JATO Dynamics endorsed that Model 3 has become Europe bestselling electric vehicle for the month of February based on the model's first full month of sales Model 3 sales have not reached optimum in the key market of the U.K, as many British buyers are waiting for the RHD version of the car.

The following affluent markets follow RHD and drive on the left side of the road and Tesla knows they could make promising markets.

· United Kingdom

· Australia

· Ireland

· Hong Kong

· South Africa

· New Zealand

· Japan

· India

· Singapore

New return policy

Meanwhile, Tesla updated new return policy on Wednesday after CEO Elon Musk’s tweets caused some confusion on how it works.

Under a new update, buyers can return a car within seven days (or prior to completing 1,000 miles) for a full refund no matter they had a test drive or not.

Musk tweeted that customers can return one of Tesla’s cars after seven days for a full refund regardless of test ride or demo from the company.

That clashed with Tesla’s official policy which was clear that the seven-day full refund applies only to customers who “haven’t test driven the car.”

However, Tesla added clarity to the matter by updating the new policy on the website as guided by Musk.