Last week we exclusively reported that employees would have early access to Model 3 reservations and this morning, employee sources have confirmed that the invitations went out at around 1am PT. Employees weren’t given a look at the Model 3 or any of the specs and are ordering it sight unseen. Two different sources say that almost everyone they knew in the company would make a reservation, again sight unseen, so Tesla should have a pretty good orders start with its 15,000 strong employee base…

Tesla’s current customers are going to be prioritized over new customers though it isn’t clear if everyone is going to be ordering at the same time – or if current Model S/X/Roadster owners will be getting a similar early access email as the above employees in the coming days.

Tesla plans to have working prototypes available at the launch party in Los Angeles but won’t start delivering orders until the end of 2017, a full year and a half away. Meanwhile, Chevy plans to start selling its 200-mile $35,000 Bolt at the end of this year. Tesla will try to compel people to wait for the Model 3 with a glitzy show that no doubt will feature new innovations.

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