Tesla’s Most Affordable Car Is Coming to the Netherlands

New Affordable Model 3 to Hit Dutch Market

Tesla is set to launch its most affordable Model 3 in the Netherlands, with an expected price tag of €36,990. This makes it the cheapest Model 3 available on the Dutch market for years.

Model 3 Standard’s Arrival and Pricing

Tesla is preparing to introduce the Model 3 Standard to the Netherlands this December, as reported by AutoWeek. The vehicle will be priced at €36,990, which is a significant cut from its current market price of around €42,000 for the Model 3 RWD. This new pricing strategy aligns with rising Dutch demand for affordable electric vehicles (EVs) as subsidies like SEPP start to fade and tax advantages for EVs continue to wind down.

According to EVUpdate, buyers seeking a no-frills EV with solid range are likely to see the Model 3 Standard as a compelling alternative. The vehicle is expected to land in the Dutch market configurator soon, positioning it comfortably below the current €39,990 price of the Model Y Standard.

Full Self-Driving v14.2.1: Texting and Driving Allowed?

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced that Full Self-Driving (FSD) v14.2.1 will allow texting and driving “depending on context of surrounding traffic.” Despite this update, Musk emphasizes that the vehicles still require attention from the vehicle operator.

Testing the Update

To test the new capability, Joey Klender attempted to determine under what conditions it would be safe to text while driving. He found that in low and medium congestion areas, he could spend up to five seconds looking at his phone without receiving a nudge from Tesla’s driver monitoring system. However, on the highway, which was considered a high congestion area, he received an alert after only 10 seconds of texting.

Klender concludes that while this capability may be enabled in certain contexts, it is not something he would recommend or feel comfortable using, given current laws and safety concerns.

Tesla’s Electric Semi Gets a Vote of Confidence

Tesla’s electric semi-truck is moving closer to broader fleet adoption with the completion of a pre-production planning session with Keller Logistics Group. This confidential meeting marks a significant step for the mid-sized carrier in evaluating the Tesla Semi for its regional routes.

Pre-Production Planning and Assessment

Keller, a family-owned carrier operating over 300 tractors and 1,000 trailers in the Midwest and Southeast, completed this session to assess the fit of the Tesla Semi in their operations. The company’s routes typically span 500-600 miles per day, making them ideal testers for the semi’s day cab configuration.

The meeting focused on matching the truck to yard, shuttle, and regional applications while scrutinizing economics like infrastructure, maintenance, and incentives under mutual non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

Industry Perspective

“For us, staying ahead isn’t a headline; it’s a habit. From electrification and yard automation to digital visibility and warehouse technology, our teams are continually pressure-testing what’s next,” said Bryan Keller, CEO of Keller Logistics Group.

Benjamin Pierce, Chief Strategy Officer at Keller, echoed these sentiments by stating that their approach is to test new tools rigorously before deployment. “Whether it’s proprietary yard systems like YardLink™, solar and renewable logistics solutions, or real-time vehicle intelligence, Keller’s approach stays the same: test it, prove it, and deploy only when it strengthens service and total cost for our customers,” said Pierce.

These developments in both the Model 3 and Tesla Semi highlight Tesla’s ongoing efforts to expand its product offerings and meet changing market demands. As the company continues to innovate, these updates underscore the importance of careful testing and industry collaboration in the advancement of autonomous driving technology and electric vehicle adoption.