Tesla

FREMONT, CA—On Friday at Tesla’s factory, Ars got behind the wheel of one of the first Tesla Model 3s off the factory line. It was a quick, 5-minute guided drive around the factory, but it gave a quick impression of what may be Tesla’s most important car.

After all, Tesla has been working up to the launch of the Model 3 for years. CEO Elon Musk’s dream has been to build an affordably-priced electric vehicle for mass production, and he’s consistently framed the the Roadster, the Model S, and the Model X  as luxury vehicles destined to subsidize a lower-priced electric car for the masses.