Tesla introduced that it’s altering its product plan to introduce cheaper electrical automobiles to be constructed on its present manufacturing strains.
Tesla has been engaged on its ‘next-generation automobile platform’ that’s anticipated to allow a brand new manufacturing course of known as “unboxed” that ought to produce cheaper electrical autos. The automaker has beforehand talked about two upcoming autos on the platform:
- a mannequin cheaper and smaller than Mannequin 3, typically being referred because the “$25,000 Tesla” or “Mannequin 2”
- Tesla Robotaxi: a brand new automobile designed from the ground-up for self-driving.
A number of weeks in the past, Reuters reported that “Tesla has canceled the long-promised cheap automotive”. CEO Elon Musk known as the publication “liars” for reporting that.
Nevertheless, Electrek reported final week that Tesla had certainly stopped all work on the brand new deliberate cheaper automobile based mostly on the brand new platform. Inside sources confirmed that Musk canceled a Gigafactory Texas growth for the brand new automobile codenamed NV9.
Right this moment, with the discharge of its Q1 2024 monetary outcomes, Tesla confirmed the change of plans for its cheaper electrical autos.
Tesla began by writing:
“Now we have up to date our future automobile line-up to speed up the launch of recent fashions forward of our beforehand communicated begin of manufacturing within the second half of 2025.”
Musk had beforehand introduced plans to construct next-gen autos towards the tip of 2025.
Tesla continued:
These new autos, together with extra reasonably priced fashions, will make the most of features of the subsequent technology platform in addition to features of our present platforms, and can be capable to be produced on the identical manufacturing strains as our present automobile line-up.
This confirms that extra reasonably priced autos are nonetheless confirmed, however not on the brand new manufacturing strains based mostly on the “unboxed” system, which is according to our earlier report that Musk shut down the growth for NV9.
Tesla defined the explanation behind the change:
This replace could end in reaching much less value discount than beforehand anticipated however allows us to prudently develop our automobile volumes in a extra capex environment friendly method throughout unsure occasions. This might assist us absolutely make the most of our present anticipated most capability of shut to a few million autos, enabling greater than 50% progress over 2023 manufacturing earlier than investing in new manufacturing strains.
Lastly, Tesla confirmed that its beforehand introduced Robotaxi will nonetheless be constructed with the brand new “unboxed” system:
Our purpose-built robotaxi product will proceed to pursue a revolutionary “unboxed” manufacturing technique.
Musk beforehand stated that Tesla plans to unveil its new Robotaxi on August eighth.
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