Tesla told us the fastest way to get your hands on a new Model 3

Tesla Motors

Tesla will pull the covers of its much-anticipated Model 3 next week.

Because the $35,000 electric luxury sedan is so inexpensive compared to the upmarket Model S, it is, effectively, the "it" car of the moment for Tesla. Even though no one has seen it yet, there will likely be lots of potential buyers ready to scoop one up.

Tesla just released more information about how to reserve one.

First, pre-orders begin on March 31, the day of the big reveal. Anyone who has dreams of owning an affordable Tesla, and about $1,000 to hand over for the deposit, can sign up.

After that, be prepared to wait. If Model 3 development remains on schedule, production won't begin until late 2017. Deliveries will begin sometime after that, but priority customers will get theirs first.

Who's a priority customer? People who already own a Tesla. "As a thank you to our current owners, existing customers will get priority in each region" for the Model 3 queue, Tesla says.

"For those who aren’t Tesla owners yet, this means the fastest way to buy a Model 3 is to buy a Model S or Model X."

If you are a current Tesla owner on the West Coast in the US, you will probably get your Model 3 first. The automaker is starting deliveries there and moving east. And as production ramps up, Tesla explained, it will "begin deliveries in Europe, APAC and right-hand drive markets."

Tesla Motors

When the Model S and Model X were first released, priority customers were people who bought the "signature" series — a more-expensive, fully-loaded launch edition of the vehicles. True to its anticipated mass-market appeal, there will be no signature series example of the Model 3. The cost of entry will be the same for everyone.

The $35,000 Model 3 is Tesla's first foray into the mass market, after having established itself as the most successful all-electric automaker in the world.

Tesla will live-stream the Model 3's worldwide debut March 31 at 8:30 p.m. PDT.

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