Electric cars to invade Paris Motor Show this week – including Tesla

Electric vehicles look set to take centre stage at the Paris Motor Show which begins this week, on October 4.

Celebrating its 120th anniversary, the Mondial de l’Auto is one of the the world’s busiest motor shows, and this year several automakers will be at the show to showcase their push into a future of electric mobility – including  from Tesla in the form of the Model 3.

While the groundbreaking electric vehicle brand is rarely seen at major car shows, an email has been sent by the automaker’s marketing department confirming their presence – and their intention to state a price for Europe.

“Join us from October 4 to 14 to get inside the Model 3 and discover its panoramic roof, its premium interior and its 15-inch touchscreen.”

Reservation holders will be offered to “skip the line” with a ID and their reservation numbers. The price of the vehicle will be shared later,” the email, which has been translated from French, says.

Joining Tesla will be a slew of European and Asian carmakers who have in recent times unveiled all-electric models and concepts, including Audi, Citroen, DS, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot – some of which we can also expect to see in the relatively near future here in Australia.

We saw Audi’s all-electric SUV e-tron just a little over a week ago, when it was first unveiled in the heart of “Tesla territory” – and the 400km range SUV will be available here in mid-2019.

Visitors to the Paris Motor Show will also be able to view South Korean carmaker Kia’s Niro EV, which is touted to have a range of 380km and should be available here by early next year.

Mercedes-Benz’s all-electric EQC, which was launched only weeks ago in Stockholm, makes its second appearance at the Paris Motor Show, having first been unveiled as a concept in 2016.

Citroen’s C5 Aircross plug-in hybrid concept will also be present – it’s electric battery has a range of 50km and some funky exterior and interior touches to differentiate itself from the ‘normal’ C5 Aircross.

The French carmaker has said it will have an all-electric range available by 2025.

DS Automobiles will be also present, showing off with its all-electric 3 Crossback which has a range of 300km range,as well as its plug-in hybrid 7 crossback E-Tense.

Last – but by no means least – is the Peugeot E-Legend, the all-electric concept sports vehicle based on the lines of the French carmaker’s iconic 504.

Visitors who were perhaps hoping to catch a glimpse of Volvo’s autonomous and electric 360C concept or VW’s new I.D. series will leave disappointed – neither will attend.

It won’t only be four-wheeled EVs that will be present at the Paris Motor Show, which attracts more than a million visitors every year – a test track will also be open to visitors to test electric bicycles and scooters.