<P> The Model 3 was codenamed Tesla BlueStar in the original business plan in 2007 . The intended name was Model E, that was abandoned due to Ford trademark . Model 3, originally stylized as "Model ☰", was announced on Musk's Twitter account on July 16, 2014 . Musk wanted the three current models to spell SEX, but settled for "S3X". In early 2017, after trademark opposition regarding Adidas's three stripes logo, the triplicate horizontal - bar stylization was abandoned and changed to a numeric "3". </P> <P> In September 2015, Tesla announced that the Model 3 would be unveiled in March 2016 . In January 2016, Musk said that the first official pictures of the car will be revealed at the end of March 2016 . Delivery would begin in late 2017 first on the U.S.'s west coast and then move eastwards . Potential customers were first able to reserve a car at Tesla stores or online on March 31 with a refundable deposit of $1000 . In February 2016, Tesla indicated that the unveiling would be on March 31, 2016 . Employees of Tesla and SpaceX were given early access to Model 3 reservation, and about 10,000 signed up without discount, scheduled to receive the first batch of cars . Current owners of Tesla vehicles will get priority sales after employees but before the general public, as a reward for helping pay for the development of the Model 3 . Early production is usually more flawed: both the Model S and the Model X had several problems at the start of their production, but have since improved . </P> <P> On the morning of March 31, 2016, tens of thousands of people waited in lines to place the refundable deposit to reserve a Model 3 for 2017 delivery . During the Model 3 unveiling event, Tesla said that over 115,000 people had reserved the Model 3 in less than 24 hours prior; more cars than Tesla had sold by that time . 24 hours after opening reservations, Tesla had advanced orders for over 180,000 cars . Two days later, Tesla said they had 232,000 reservations . </P> <P> One week after the unveiling, Tesla said it had over 325,000 reservations, more than triple the number of Model S sedans sold by the end of 2015 . Musk said that 5% of reservations correspond to the maximum of two vehicles allowed per customer, "suggesting low levels of speculation", and that 93% of Model 3 reservations are from new buyers who do not currently own a Tesla . The previous record for advance deposits on a car was the 1955 Citroën DS that had 80,000 deposits during the ten days of the Paris Auto Show, while the Model 3 had 232,000 reservations in two days . </P>

When did tesla start taking deposits for model 3