I don't think one can buy a Model 3 today for less than $45,000, which is more than a Honda Civic R costs, and the R is the top of the line performance minded Civic.
The real price of the Tesla is probably closer to $55 K. If they could make and sell them for the promised $35 K price for real, they'd be able to sell them like hotcakes, in effect, while losing a lot more money. The Chevy Bolt sells for closer to $35 K and isn't the same kind of vehicle obviously.
The lowest-price Tesla today* is the Standard Range Plus w/ AutoPilot, which is $39.5K plus $1200 delivery & fees. That's in black with base wheels and interior, with zero options (including paying for the full self driving** computer, which would be another $5K).
Now, to be fair, you deduct $3750+ based on where you live for the Federal EV credit, plus anything you get from state ($6250 total here in Fed+CA rebates). That's assuming here in CA that you don't exceed the income restrictions to be eligible. I'd say most Model 3 buyers probably don't, but that most Model S or Model X buyers exceed the income requirements to be able to afford a car that expensive.
So in reality, that would bring the price of a base Model 3 down to about $35K after rebates here in CA. Still an expensive vehicle, especially without any of the options including the ability to choose color and have non-ugly wheels, but not $45K.
* Supposedly the $35K model exists. But you can't buy it on their website, only if you call and order by phone. And from what I've been reading, if you try to order by phone, they aggressively try to upsell you to other models.
** Not true full self driving. Their definition of FSD is not true level 5 autonomy.
My point was that some EVs already exist in the $30-40K range and this is a common range for the new car buying public. It's not $5-20K but "competitively priced" means different things to different people. That EV technology is falling into the $30-40K range is already capturing a serious chunk of the "competitively priced"-minded people.
My point is that what you get in the $30-40K range from other vendors is a lot more than you get from a Tesla in that range. A BMW or Audi will be a lot more luxurious. To get a Honda Civic Sedan, the absolute top model starts at $27K (and you can usually talk a dealer down--try doing that with Tesla).
And a more important point isn't just price...
It's that the company can be profitable and around in another quarter selling cars at that price. Tesla tries not to let you buy the supposedly-existing $35K Model 3 because they can't make money on it. Their overall margins are getting squeezed and they lost $700M last quarter. Based on what I'm reading, they may be weeks to months away from being unable to meet payroll if they don't get a capital raise. Their behavior is of a company that's seriously cash-strapped and desperate for ANYTHING they can get to get a few dollars in the door.
At this point, there are some pure BEVs that are at the upper end of that $30-40K range, and it's unclear whether they can be sold profitably or whether they exist primarily to help automakers stay within CAFE standards. But you're right, they do exist.
But that doesn't mean they're equivalent to the other cars in those price ranges. The bargain-basement versions are under $40K. If you want a car as well-appointed as that Civic Touring, you're going to be spending well over $40K.
