Which Tesla model became the company’s first mass-market electric car?

The Tesla Model 3 became Tesla’s first mass-market electric car.

Tesla unveiled the Model 3 in 2016 as a more affordable companion to the premium Model S and Model X. Its design targeted a much larger customer base, with a substantially lower starting price than Tesla’s earlier vehicles. Deliveries began in July 2017.

The Model 3 used a compact sedan body, a large central touchscreen, and battery-electric propulsion. Strong demand created a major production challenge, and Tesla spent 2017 and 2018 increasing manufacturing capacity.

The Model 3 is sometimes called Tesla’s first electric car, but that distinction belongs to the Roadster, which entered production earlier. The Model 3 was instead the company’s first high-volume, relatively affordable model.