Photos have surfaced online of a prototype car that could be Tesla’s long-rumored small car.
The photos, published on auto spydepicts a small SUV with headlights and taillights similar to the Model 3 and Model Y.
However, in terms of size and proportions, it looks like a football field of Mazda CX-30.
However, the presence of a round fender at the rear plus what looks like a cutout for the exhaust could mean this is another carmaker’s car that took too much. Design inspiration from Tesla.
Tesla said earlier this year it would announce details of its next-generation platform on March 1, 2023.
The “3rd generation” platform says it can serve as the foundation for the new low-end model and robotaxi.
“[An entry-level vehicle is] is clearly the main focus of our new vehicle development team,” CEO Elon Musk said on a conference call after announcing Tesla’s Q3 2022 financial results.
“At this point, we have completed the engineering for the Cybertruck and Semi. So obviously that’s what we’re working on, the next generation vehicle, will probably be half the cost of the 3 and Y platforms. Obviously it’s going to be smaller.”
Tesla’s cheapest car right now is Model 3 RWD, opened at $64,300 before circulation costs. Chinese brands such as BYD and MG are entering the local electric vehicle market with models with much lower starting prices.
Elon Musk talked about a new entry-level model in 2020, with a base price offered at US$25,000 (AU$36,209 in today’s money) and “fully automated” capabilities.
But in 2021, the Tesla CEO seems to pour cold water on the plans of a low-end model, saying on an earnings call, “We’re not currently working on a $25,000 car.” la. At some point we will. But we have enough on our plate right now – too much on our plate, frankly.
One of Tesla’s on-disk items is the Cybertruck, which has been delayed and won’t currently go into mass production until next year.
Tesla can reduce costs with a new 4680 battery, first announced in 2020, which is said to be both more energy efficient and affordable to manufacture.
In December, the company confirmed that it had reached a weekly production output of 868,000 cells, enough to power 1000 vehicles.
A new entry-level model could help boost Tesla’s sales in the key market China, where it will likely be manufactured.
Tesla announced price cuts there earlier this year, which has helped the brand boost sales. But it is facing stiffer competition from local brands, chief among them BYD, which is launching more affordable electric vehicles like the Dolphin and Seagull.
