Tesla updated its website this week to push a notification on the Model 3 page that announces upcoming test drives of the vehicle in “late 2017”.

The company is also quick to suggest a test drive in Model S or Model X if people want to more quickly get into a Tesla.

When Tesla introduces a new vehicle, it needs to convert its backlog of reservations (over 400,000 when it comes to the Model 3) into orders.

While in the past, plenty of Tesla reservation holders have ended up ordering the vehicle without test driving or even seeing it in person in some cases, Tesla has dedicated some early production for test drive fleets.

Those vehicles were traveling across Tesla’s different markets and were available for short periods of time at Tesla stores for scheduled test drives exclusively for reservation holders.

It looks like Tesla is planning to do the same for the Model 3 in late 2017, according to the new notification pushed to several reservation holders this week (picture via Justin Sabourin):

It feels like another “anti-sell” technique since it’s pushed to people on the Model 3 page, but the “schedule test drive” is for Model S and Model X.

When it comes to the Model 3, Tesla has been engaging in what CEO Elon Musk has been calling “anti-selling”. Model 3 reservations already represent over one year worth of production – and that’s if Tesla has an almost perfect production ramp, which is unlikely.

Therefore, the company doesn’t need more Model 3 reservations, but Model S and Model X are already in production and Tesla wants to get more people in those cars. With that in mind, the company reminded everyone that the Model 3 is not the “next generation Tesla” and they have been trying to push the Model S to Model 3 reservation holders.

Of course, the price difference is still the main barrier for most buyers.

Interestingly, Tesla plans to open the Model 3 online design studio to early reservation holders as soon as next month – when they will deliver the first vehicles.

The first vehicles will be delivered to employees so Tesla can manage test drives internally for those orders, but if the online configurator is opened in late July and test drives to the public only starts in “late 2017”, it means that those who change their reservations into orders in July will likely not have access to test drives before placing their orders.

Though, maybe test drives will be available during the delivery event in July? We should have a much better idea of the process in the next few weeks.

Would you place your order for the Model 3 before having a chance to test drive it? Let us know in the comment section below.

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