The Model 2 on the Next-Gen platform seems well and truly buried. But Tesla is planning new models for 2025, some of which will be affordable.
New Tesla models will be introduced in 2025, including models at very competitive prices. It's unclear whether Elon Musk came to his senses following investor reactions to the Model 2 suspension or whether the decision predated that. The company does not provide any really specific comments on the reason for the change of course.
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Elon Musk spoke only succinctly about the new models during the 1st quarter financial results conference. The subject remains quite vague at the moment. On the other hand, he addressed the subject of autonomous driving and its implications for the future of the company much more broadly.
Models that will not be based on the new generation platform
Tesla has announced that it wants to accelerate the launch of new models for 2025. Elon Musk has clarified that more affordable models are also planned. Unlike the initial project which wanted the Model 2 to be marketed at around €25,000 on the Next-Gen platform, Tesla has lowered its ambitions to move towards a solution that is easier to implement.
The new models will be developed on current production lines. The models will mix elements of the existing platform and others from the Next-Gen platform. These future Teslas will not benefit from the revolutionary production method promised by Tesla. This will be reserved for the robotaxi project.
New models faster, but not necessarily at €25,000
This solution has the advantage of allowing Tesla to develop new products much more quickly. This avoids waiting for the Next-Gen platform and its “unboxing” assembly method to materialize, which is still only in the draft stage at present.
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The disadvantage lies in a reduction in manufacturing costs that is much less spectacular than announced with the new platform. This solution was supposed to halve production costs, but this will not be the case. However, Tesla has already largely optimized production costs on existing platforms for Model 3 and Model Y, it is difficult to know how the company can further progress to lower prices.
However, it is not completely excluded that Tesla could still market a car for around €25,000, as other European and Chinese manufacturers are now offering. For the moment, the manufacturer has not provided any information that could confirm that Tesla is moving in this direction.
Questions from investors on this subject were evaded. We will probably have to wait until the end of the year to begin to see what Tesla will have in store for us beyond the robotaxi presented on August 8.