The Origin and Fun Facts About the Tesla Model 3 Name

Elon Musk has a reputation for names.

Whether it is choosing a name for his child that had the internet debating how to say it aloud or creating cars that will spell out a specific term, it is evident that Musk takes the naming process very seriously.

The Origin of the "Model 3 Name"

The car company was named after the brilliant and innovative - thought somewhat controversial - Nikola Tesla. Much like Tesla the inventor made big plans and futuristic claims, Tesla the company has fought to be a forerunner in its field.

The original intent behind the naming of Tesla's innovative electric car models was to have them eventually spell out "SEXY", starting with the original Model S followed by the Model X; in theory, the Models E and Y would follow. However, in 2014, Musk announced that the Tesla Model E would instead be named "Model 3". Rival car manufacturer Ford had threatened lawsuits over the name; not only it "Model e" the name of Ford's electric car division, but the automotive giant has also long fought against any rival companies using names that like be close to "Model T", the first car widely available to American consumers.

Fun Facts About the Naming of Model 3

Originally wanted the 'SEXY' in Tesla's portfolio Originally wanted the "SEXY" in Tesla's portfolio

The innovative and forward-thinking Musk did not allow the name change to deter him, though; the choice of replacing the "E" with "3" was rather ingenious. Not only did it highlight that this would be the third model widely released, but the similarity of the two characters just alters the "SEXY" plan to "S3XY," which one might argue is even a little s3xier.

The discussion with Ford about the name "Model E" did not actually begin in 2014. In 2010, Tesla and Ford had signed an agreement that included preventing Tesla from use of the name; according to the Detroit Free Press, Tesla had agreed to not register the name. Nevertheless, in 2014 Tesla registered to trademark the name "Model E", which spurred the legal action by Ford.

The branding and logos of Tesla, created by RO Studios, have been developed specifically to invoke the futuristic and science-fiction spirit of the company; like the inventor for which the manufacturer was named, Tesla has strived for goals that some may seem as too lofty or over-reaching. Nevertheless, much like Nikola Tesla created man-made lightning, Musk's company is achieving those lofty goals they have set. The stylized lettering and industrial beauty of the logo and branding are appropriate representations of the company.

The original logo for the Model 3 was actually 3 stylized bars stacked atop of one another (☰); it was a clone of the "E" in the company logo of Tesla. in 2017, though, the company changed the branding of the Model 3 to a more traditional number 3. Some speculation is that the 3 bar design made the car difficult to type into search engines. Others believe it was changed after more pressure from Ford since it still so closely resembled the letter E. Whatever the reason, in January of 2017, the Tesla website changed the branding of the Model 3 to the Arabic numeral still used today.

Model 3 Sales and the Future

Manufacturing of the Model 3 began in July of 2017, and sales rose quickly. According to EV Sales, the Model 3 has been the best-selling electric vehicle for the past three years - lending yet another cool layer to the name. In June 2021, it passed the one million sold mark and continues to be popular in the United States and parts of Europe. It is known as the best-selling electric car in history and had a historic 350,000 reservations prior to being actually manufactured, reported Bloomberg News.

It will be seen if the Model 3 continues to hold this record, or if it will be upset by the Ford Mach-E or Tesla's own Model Y. So far, the hindrances to manufacturing due to the Covid-19 pandemic seem to be securing Model 3's place in history. Only time will tell if this holds fast.

However, whatever happens with sales and manufacturing in the future, the Model 3 can be sure to keep the distinction of the car that got its name because two companies fought over a vowel.

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