Lower priced Model 3 and Y

[JeffKeryk]

They weren't rumors. It was fact.
5years ago, Sept 20th 2020 =
"Tesla today announced an upcoming $25,000 electric car enabled by its new battery cell and coming within the next three years ...
Musk also added that the new $25,000 electric car is going to come to market in about three years, when Tesla has ramped up production of its new battery cell."

Source - https://electrek.co/2020/09/22/tesla-electric-car-cheap/

This guy is a genius and con-artist at the same time.

Regardless, the cars never materialized.
I see the point of making strippie Model 3 and Y; it's much easier than a whole new vehicle.
IMO, the 3 makes some sense, the Y does not. Change a color, upgrade the wheels and you are near the price of the Premium cars. You have to buy the base Standard to make it worth while. And as I think about it, even then you would have to be stretched to get the Standard. At least the range is still better than most EVs on the market. Just my 2 cents.

 

[dogememe]

He did it so often people are used to him overpromising by now. Eventually he did somewhat partially deliver though, a bit late but nonetheless at least partially deliver unlike those other guys.

Having said that, consider how inflation went he wasn't too far off adjusted for inflation based on the price of other commodities like copper, steel, etc. If you compare to other vehicles that people cross shop that isn't too bad either.

The days of a new $16k Corolla is long gone...

Yeah, $25K in 2020 is what, $30K now?

 

[fdcg27]

Does anyone really believe that Tesla actually took $5.5K out of the manufacturing cost of the Model 3 to arrive at this base model?
Tesla is well aware that some or many Model 3 intenders will buy the base over the standard model, so it needs to make the base unattractive enough to discourage this while still attracting new buyers to the fold.
It may also be that Tesla hopes to attract with a low base price and then entice shoppers into the more expensive (and profitable) versions of the car.
This is a game that car manufacturers have been playing since before anyone on this thread was even born.
The "features" add nickle and dime costs for a manufacturer but are valued far higher by many or most buyers.

 

[97prizm]

Or a Porsche...or a Mercedes...or a Lucid. They all pretty much have horrendous depreciation. It's hard to calculate it correctly because of all the incentives applied to the initial purchase. But even 100K EVs are often available for well under 50K three years later.

I wouldn't buy a used Leaf either, but that's because I drove a lot. For someone doing less than 10,000 miles annually somewhere cooler, like in the Northern U.S., a used Leaf isn't a terrible option if they can get it for the right price. Even the S40 Leaf would have at least 100 miles of range after 50,000 miles driving. If the owner isn't using public chargers they could probably get by.

I drove a Focus Electric with 100 miles of range for three years and put 55,000 miles on it. I actually contemplated buying a Leaf for my daughter, but the Bolt and Niro aren't much more expensive and of course have liquid cooling.

My parents had seriously considered a deal last year but are still Arizona residents. Fiat had a 500e lease of $0 down $0 per month and a $1500 fee for taxes and a $395 disposition fee. This was an end of 2024 special.

 

[97prizm]

Regardless, the cars never materialized.
I see the point of making strippie Model 3 and Y; it's much easier than a whole new vehicle.
IMO, the 3 makes some sense, the Y does not. Change a color, upgrade the wheels and you are near the price of the Premium cars. You have to buy the base Standard to make it worth while. And as I think about it, even then you would have to be stretched to get the Standard. At least the range is still better than most EVs on the market. Just my 2 cents.

They dropped the FM/AM radio. How does that save them money in 2025?

 

[97prizm]

Tesla rumors surrounding cheaper EVs have been around for years. The "Model 2" was just around the corner... The "smaller Model Y" spy shots...

One thing Tesla does well is part reuse instead of new stuff. There are very few options to select making Bills of Material and procurement simpler. This all contributes to manufacturing efficiency. Of course there are many who want to pick and choose; Teslas are not for them.

I think the Model 3 Standard makes a lotta sense, the Model Y Standard not so much. Having said that, regarding the Model 3 Standard, you are getting a worse riding suspension. If you want the bigger wheels (and lose range) and/or non-free paint, you should probably get the Model 3 Premium. The $5500 gets cut in half....
Let's see what happens.

Are they going to do the same thing as the "cheap" Cybertruck? They did the same thing. Tesla said ooh ooh cheap Cybertruck but it was discontinued three months after production. They gutted the options but only knocked the price down a bit.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Does anyone really believe that Tesla actually took $5.5K out of the manufacturing cost of the Model 3 to arrive at this base model?
Tesla is well aware that some or many Model 3 intenders will buy the base over the standard model, so it needs to make the base unattractive enough to discourage this while still attracting new buyers to the fold.
It may also be that Tesla hopes to attract with a low base price and then entice shoppers into the more expensive (and profitable) versions of the car.
This is a game that car manufacturers have been playing since before anyone on this thread was even born.
The "features" add nickle and dime costs for a manufacturer but are valued far higher by many or most buyers.

Let's just say Tesla prices are apt to change. My guess is they are testing the market, but what do I know?
I was guessing they would come out with a Honda Civic Hatch with a 300 mile range for $25K.
I am hoping the Roadster II sees the light of day, to spank all the Uber expensive cars out there. I stopped holding my breath a long time ago... Elon's time, as they say.

 

[97prizm]

Let's just say Tesla prices are apt to change. My guess is they are testing the market, but what do I know?
I was guessing they would come out with a Honda Civic Hatch with a 300 mile range for $25K.
I am hoping the Roadster II sees the light of day, to spank all the Uber expensive cars out there. I stopped holding my breath a long time ago... Elon's time, as they say.

Tesla doesn't even have a driving prototype of the roadster. Deposit holders are already cancelling as it's been Eight years. Every time Musk talks about the roadster he gets more ridiculous. He now claims 0-60 in .9 seconds, that it'll "fly" and will have rocket thrusters. This should make people question alot. The Yangwang U9 has already set a speed record.

 

[dogememe]

Are they going to do the same thing as the "cheap" Cybertruck? They did the same thing. Tesla said ooh ooh cheap Cybertruck but it was discontinued three months after production. They gutted the options but only knocked the price down a bit.

It’s sad, I wanted the RWD Cybertruck just not ready to order yet. Need to make some money first haha.

 

[97prizm]

Waymo operates based on maps in a predefined area. Different animal.

Different or not, if company employees are saying their tech is behind then that tells me alot.

 

[Trav]

Tesla doesn't even have a driving prototype of the roadster. Deposit holders are already cancelling as it's been Eight years. Every time Musk talks about the roadster he gets more ridiculous. He now claims 0-60 in .9 seconds, that it'll "fly" and will have rocket thrusters. This should make people question alot. The Yangwang U9 has already set a speed record.

But..but everyone else is following the leader. More like BYD has proven the have the engineering technology, the manufacturing prowess, the designers to build just about anything they want from a 25K grocery getter to the world fastest car. I guess the leader is playing second fiddle.

 

[97prizm]

Waymo operates based on maps in a predefined area. Different animal.

Different or not, if company employees are saying they're tech is behind

Does anyone really believe that Tesla actually took $5.5K out of the manufacturing cost of the Model 3 to arrive at this base model?
Tesla is well aware that some or many Model 3 intenders will buy the base over the standard model, so it needs to make the base unattractive enough to discourage this while still attracting new buyers to the fold.
It may also be that Tesla hopes to attract with a low base price and then entice shoppers into the more expensive (and profitable) versions of the car.
This is a game that car manufacturers have been playing since before anyone on this thread was even born.
The "features" add nickle and dime costs for a manufacturer but are valued far higher by many or most buyers.

Some are worried that this will cannibalize sales of the more expensive cars. It's weird a "tech" company like Tesla made the side mirrors manually adjusted. I'm curious if the model y "L" will make it to the USA/Canada?

 

[97prizm]

But..but everyone else is following the leader. More like BYD has proven the have the engineering technology, the manufacturing prowess, the designers to build just about anything they want from a 25K grocery getter to the world fastest car. I guess the leader is playing second fiddle.

To me Tesla used to be the leader in ev technology. Coke for years reliably sold cola/diet coke Sprite etc. Cola sales are flat so they bought sparkling water company etc. I see ALOT of hype from Musk but nothing new. Just minor updates. One of theautopian journalists just got back from China and was let down when reviewing the model y "L". The armrest build quality was not good, the interior was a boring gray according to many shopping in teslas China showroom. The seat took 15 seconds to move and for a vehicle that is supposed to be about luxury (Why the long wheelbase models exist in China) it was fairly stripped out. Tesla needs new leadership.

 

[jghall00]

The "features" add nickle and dime costs for a manufacturer but are valued far higher by many or most buyers.

But manual mirrors?

I've been in Waymo several times and use FSD in my Tesla every day. They are fundamentally different... one is a taxi service that operates in a very narrow variety of places and relies on pre-mapped roads. Tesla FSD works literally anywhere and everywhere at any time on a cheap (ish) car that (almost) anyone can have in their driveway.

Judging from the number of FSD fails on Youtube, that's because Waymo prioritizes safety, while Tesla is like...send it! My Waymo stopped to avoid hitting a squirrel. FSD runs over ladders.

 

[PandaBear]

They dropped the FM/AM radio. How does that save them money in 2025?

Antenna cost, labor to install wiring cost, defective warranty cost, radio circuit cost. I think maybe $10-20 per car but not the main part of the $5000 off. Still things add up though. Without the radio parts they may just have one less circuit board and does everything in software.

 

[1000MPH]

I like some of the changes:
18” wheels
Front and rear light bar delete
Rounded edges on the rear glass
Manual steering wheel adjustment
Ambient lighting updates
Full headliner