If you want to predict how much Tesla’s cheapest car will cost at any given time, you just have to know one thing: the average price paid for a new vehicle in the US. Only $300 or so separates the two figures, on average. It’s been that way from the start, according to a new analysis of pricing data compiled by Bloomberg. When the Model 3 went into production in 2017, Elon Musk touted a $35,000 starting price that almost exactly mirrored the $34,944 average cost of a new vehicle at the time. Five years and a burst of inflation later, a Model 3 costs $46,990, versus the $47,692 average in the US. Tesla’s floating-price strategy is unique among car companies. As electric vehicle demand soars and established manufacturers chase after Tesla, carmakers including Ford and Volvo are beginning to move toward more centralized control over EV sales and pricing. Musk’s strategy also will be under more scrutiny than ever. Read more at the link in our bio or visit: bloomberg.com/green 📷: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg