Elon Musk assures us: a more accessible Tesla will arrive in the coming months. The company plans to launch an "affordable" electric car during the first half of 2025. Not an all-new model designed from scratch, but a lighter version of the Model Y, manufactured on the current lines. The goal is to release a cheaper vehicle without rebuilding the entire factory.
The Tesla low price, finally a reality?
“It will look a lot like the models we know, but it will cost less, and you will actually be able to buy one,” summarized Lars Moravy, Tesla's vice president of engineering, during a conference with analysts. The project is moving forward, but the ramp-up could take a little longer than expected. The good news is that nothing is stopping production from starting on time.
According to Reuters, Tesla plans to produce this model in the United States and skip some features to lower the price. This "light" model is expected to be a crucial growth lever to give sales a much-needed boost...
The promise of a low-cost Tesla car comes at just the right time. The manufacturer saw its automotive revenue drop by 20% in the first quarter, and its net profit collapsed by 71%. All this in a complicated context : trade wars, rising customs tariffs, an overall slowdown in purchases, especially for goods as expensive as a car.
Elon Musk, for his part, acknowledged that he was going to have to ease off politics. Heavily involved in recent months in a unit linked to the Trump administration, called DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), the boss promised to devote less of his time to it and to return to the head of his companies, including Tesla. He still plans to continue spending... 40% of his time there. Not exactly a complete comeback, then, and that means he spent very little time... Tesla in recent weeks.
Another promise in the pipeline: the launch of a fleet of robotaxis in Austin, Texas, still scheduled for June. Musk claims there will be "millions of fully autonomous Teslas" by the end of 2026. A completely empty promise, as regulators have yet to give the green light. And the legal risks surrounding driverless cars are very real.
In terms of figures, Tesla generated $19.34 billion in revenue, below expectations. The automotive margin continues to decline, even if it remains above some forecasts. The pleasant surprise is better controlled production costs. But to reassure the markets in the long term, it will take more than a half-hearted return and vague promises for the future. The low-cost Tesla will have to keep its promises and arrive on time.
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