It's official: The first deliveries of the long-awaited Tesla Model S will begin on June 22.
Nearly three years after the car was first announced, Tesla's sales VP George Blankenship confirmed on the company's blog that the first customers with reservations will get their cars a month from today.
"We are ahead of schedule and can’t wait to put our first Reservation Holders behind the wheel," Blankenship wrote. "We’ve been looking forward to this day for over three years, and the buzz around the office and the factory is escalating every day."
If you're one of the owners taking delivery on the 22nd, Tesla's revealed that you'll be able to use the car's 17-inch touchscreen to electronically tailor the driving experience with adjustable steering, suspension and regenerative braking. Drivers who want a higher ride height or less regenerative braking can do so, even at the expense of range.
Even if you haven't set aside $87,500 for one of the first 1,000 85-kWh "Signature" models – an $18,000 premium over the starting price of the regular 85-kWh Model S – you can still join in on the excitement. Tesla is bringing four Model S Beta cars to this weekend's grand opening of its new retail store in White Plains, New York, and taking a red Model S Beta on a tour of Canada over the next few months.
Additionally, Tesla will be sharing more information about the Model S build process and its former NUMMI factory in Fremont in a new "Inside Tesla" series of posts on its blog. First up was a shot of the entire Tesla team with the first customer-ready Model S body.
Earlier this month, Tesla announced that the range for the 85-kWh Model S could top 300 miles. Pricing starts at $49,900 for customers purchasing a non-Signature, 40-kWh base Model S.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com
