Tesla has been working on a more affordable model for a few years now, with production expected to begin in mid-2025. At the company’s last earnings call in July, it shared that this model would be delayed since Tesla was concentrating on increasing Model Y deliveries before US tax credits ran out.
Now, a new software update has revealed key details about the cheaper model, hinting at a no-frills design that cuts costs. According to Tesla app code expert, greentheonly, who shared on X, several of the changes have been spotted.
This includes confirms that it will have a new outer design, code-named E41 and no glass roof and smaller 18-inch wheels with tyre pressure monitoring systems removed, on the outside.
There are also hints that the powered mirrors will be removed. Other changes include removing the heater from the reversing camera.
On the inside, the changes go a bit further with no scrren in the rear, a simpler audio system labelled in the code as “Essential”, a basic fibreglass headliner, less interior lights, simpler seat controls and removal of puddle lights found on Tesla’s other models.
Previously, a test vehicle was seen, indicating some of these changes that were expected when this goes into production before the end of the year.
Other signs that match what’s been shared in the software now are that the exterior and interior are shown in close-ups, indicating a solid roof rather than the panoramic glass found in all of Tesla’s current models, including the well-liked Model 3 and Model Y.
The front and back seats are now made of cloth on the interior, which means they won’t have the ventilation that comes with all current models.
The front and rear have also undergone styling changes to the outer design. The lightbars found on the new Model Y will likely not be included.
Also, it seems that the new model will be shorter than the typical Tesla Model Y, which is roughly 4.8 meters long.
On the design of the upcoming model, we learned more about the car’s styling from Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, response to a question from a Tesla investor during the last company earnings call..
Musk replied by jokingly saying that the more affordable model will look like the Model Y.
With several more reasonably priced options from rivals already on the market and about to be released in the coming months, a model in the lineup that comes under $58,900 starting price of Tesla’s Model Y may be the car that helps the company see strong growth locally and in other key markets around the world..
A cheaper model has been in the works for a while, with multiple mentions of this model at the company earnings calls over the last few quarters, including the last one where it was announced that it would be in Q4 instead of the end of Q2.
With Q4 now around the corner, it’s only a matter of time before the model is revealed, bringing with it a fresh set of customers to the brand and further helping with the EV transition in key markets like ours here in Australia.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.