Elon Musk will unveil the latest electric vehicle, an SUV

Tesla CEO Elon Musk will unveil the automaker's latest electric vehicle at an event in the Los Angeles area on Thursday night.

The Y model will debut as questions revolve around SUV design, technical features, timing and pricing.

Tesla must offer a functional interior and improved reliability to appeal to pragmatic and family-oriented compact SUV buyers, said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at Edmunds, a consulting site for car buying.

"It's not a sports car segment," Caldwell said. "These are not young Tesla enthusiasts thinking that it's my way into a Tesla. Will there be a smart package inside that will actually work for families?"

Karl Brauer, executive editor of Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader of Cox Automotive, said that "time is running out" for Tesla to provide an attractive product, as its competitors are fast approaching. It is therefore essential for the company to successfully launch the Y model safely.

"Every day that passes, it's less interesting for a single (electric) SUV to enter the market than the day before, and that includes Teslas," Brauer said.

Here are five key things to expect from the Y model:

This could still be Tesla's bestseller

Americans have a love story with SUVs and crossovers, and the size of the Y model should align with the popular sub-segment of compact SUVs.

The popularity of compact passenger cars is declining, which partly explains why it was surprising that Musk chose this category for the manufacturer's first consumer vehicle, the Model 3.

Musk estimated that the demand for Model Y could be as much as 50% or more than double that of Model 3.

Brauer admitted that sales of the Y model would probably end up exceeding model 3.

Higher cost, less autonomy

"The Y model, being an SUV, is about 10% larger than the model 3, so it will cost about 10% more and will have a slightly lower battery life for the same battery," Musk said on Twitter on March 3rd.

The basic version of Model 3 starts at $ 35,000, but most buyers have paid more than $ 40,000 and some have paid more than $ 50,000 for vehicles with more options.

Starting prices for the Y model will likely be around $ 40,000, Brauer and Caldwell announced. And many buyers will probably pay $ 50,000 or more, they predicted.

"There will be a lot of questions about the price," said Caldwell. "We are not only looking for a price announcement, but also the assurance that they will offer this vehicle at this price."

You will not be able to get one for a while

If history guides you, Tesla will likely start accepting orders online shortly after the Thursday night event, if not immediately thereafter. But that does not mean you should expect to drive one anytime soon.

Musk said production would start slowly in early 2020 and reach high volumes by the end of 2020. But Tesla has repeatedly missed its production targets.

"They have to confirm that the car has a realistic schedule that they can respect," Brauer said. "It would be a good time not to over-buy and under-deliver."

It's a bit like the model 3

Model Y is based on the same architectural platform as Model 3.

This allows Tesla to reduce costs by using about 75% of the same parts, Musk told investors in January.

Assembled in Reno?

This is an unusual place to make vehicles. Most cars assembled in the United States are manufactured in the Midwest or in the South, with the notable exception of Tesla Model S, Model X and Model 3 vehicles manufactured in Fremont, California.

The manufacturer has announced that it is likely to manufacture the Y model at its battery plant in Nevada, where it continues to increase production. But this will require a significant investment in assembly line equipment and employee training.

"The batteries and powertrains will go out and go straight into the vehicle," Musk said in January. "So that also reduces our risk of execution and the costs of moving parts from California to Nevada." That's not a sure thing, but it's highly likely, and it's a good thing. is our default plan. "

Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.

Read or share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2019/03/14/tesla-model-y-suv-reveal/3152079002/