On what date did Tesla unveil the production-intent Model 3?

Tesla unveiled the production-intent Model 3 on March 31, 2016.

Tesla presented the Model 3 at an event in Hawthorne, California, on March 31, 2016. The company positioned the vehicle as a more affordable electric car intended for much higher production volumes than the Model S and Model X. Tesla reported that large numbers of prospective buyers placed reservations soon after the unveiling.

The car was originally called the Tesla Model 3, although the company had previously used the name Model E during development. Ford held a trademark for “Model E,” so Tesla adopted the name Model 3 instead. The vehicle entered production in 2017 at Tesla’s Fremont factory.

The unveiling date is distinct from the start of deliveries. Public deliveries began in July 2017, more than a year after the presentation. That timeline is why launch-event questions and first-delivery questions have different answers.