Tesla’s current low production volume for Model 3 combined with the fact that there are over 400,000 people who placed reservations for the vehicle leads to a very unique supply/demand situation for the electric car at the moment.

As it would be expected, the lucky few who managed to get the car first could try to resell it for a profit. We now get the first example of that with the very first used Tesla Model 3 listed for sale at $150,000.

The vehicle VIN#209 was listed on Craigslist (update: the posting has been removed by the author) last night in Santa Cruz, California. The listing reads:

“First ever Tesla Model 3 for sale. Car is lightly used with just over 2,000 miles. This is a unique opportunity to own one of the most anticipated cars ever. Skip the line of over 400,000 people and buy the car of the future now! Car is fully loaded with the 310 Mile Long Range Battery, Panoramic Glass Roof, Premium Interior, Sound System and Aero Wheels. Car has been great for the past 2,000 miles and a unique circumstance is forcing me to part with the car. Fit and finish are excellent for an early production model. This car meets all of the hype and I plan on owning another in the future.”

Tesla employees and company insiders are still the only ones currently getting the Model 3 as regular customer deliveries are planned only for later this month.

We were able to confirm that the Model 3 listed is owned by a Tesla Monterey employee.

Here are some pictures from the listing:

Interestingly, Tesla saw the situation coming and preemptively added language to the Model 3 ordering process for employees in order to try to prevent it:

“Because employees are receiving special priority, all Model 3 cars prioritized to employees must be registered to you or your family member and may not be resold for more than the original price. Reservation holders will agree to these terms when their order is placed.”

It wasn’t clear how Tesla could actually enforce that since automakers technically have little power over a vehicle after it’s delivered unless it is leased.

$150,000 is 4 times the base price of the Model 3 and almost 3 times the $56,000 list price of the vehicle as optioned.

To be fair, the seller admits that he doesn’t know how to price the car and he is gauging demand:

“I am not really sure how to price the car but it is in obvious demand. I understand the curiosity but serious offers only please.”

Any serious offers?

Electrek’s Take

I don’t think any Model 3 reservation holder will pay that kind of a premium to get the vehicle early, but that doesn’t mean that it will not sell for the asking price.

There are plenty of other people who would be interested in an early Model 3 and willing to pay.

Other automakers have been known to try to purchase early vehicles from their competitors in order to benchmark or reverse-engineer them. Tesla has been the target of that with its last few vehicles.

Audi bought an early Model X to bring to Europe ahead of the European launch.They didn’t know that European Tesla vehicles don’t have the same plugs as North American vehicles, which led to them being hilariously stuck at a Supercharger station in Germany.

Ford also reportedly paid a ~$55,000 premium to own an early Founders series Tesla Model X.

If this Model 3 sells for its asking price, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up at a competitor.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.

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