The Tesla Model 3 is already one of the most democratic electric vehicles , thanks to its large selection of great EV features and a reasonably low price liken to other electric car . But it seems like Tesla is knead on making the motorcar even cheaper and has released a more affordableModel 3with a downgraded inside in Mexico .
Do n’t get me wrong . I ’m glad that the Model 3 is available at a low price in Mexico ( it cuts the price of the current base Model 3 by around $ 4,000 ) . But I really hope the vehicle makes it to the U.S.
What’s different?
There are a few things that determine the cheaper Model 3 variant apart from thecurrent substructure Model 3 in the U , S. Most of these have to do with a reversion of features compared to the Model 3 Highland update that was release last year . For example , the new passenger display in the back seat has been removed , and the accent light in the automobile is white only . Additionally , the keister coverings are a cheaper fabric instead of the imitation leather useable in the current Model 3 . And there are no pick for het up seats or a heated steering wheel .
These changes are actually very reasonable . Accent lighting is n’t a must - have for most car buyers , and it seems totally fair to trade a passenger showing for a lower Mary Leontyne Price . Even seat heating , while helpful , is n’t necessarily all that important in areas like Mexico and California .
The vehicle keep itsmost important feature article , though . Notably , it still offers a range of around 272 miles and the ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds . In other Logos , the powertrain and battery remain unmoved .
The elusive $30,000 EV
We ’ve been hear rumors of acheaper Teslafor years now , but maybe this is the first signaling that the elusive $ 30,000 Tesla is n’t a new model at all — just a downgrade translation of what ’s already one of the cheapest electric cars you’re able to get . This punk Model 3 is around $ 4,000 less than the current base version of the car , which is uncommitted for $ 38,990 in the US . In other words , if this vehicle were to be released stateside , it could be priced at around $ 35,000 .
That ’s still a number of a leap from the $ 30,000 figure that has been hurl around as the signal that EVs are price likewise to their gas - powered counterparts , but it catch a whole circle closer than Tesla ever has before .
That ’s not only not bad for budget - witting electric elevator car buyers , but for the industry as a whole . The U.S. has a cheap electron volt problem , largely due to the fact that European manufacturers do n’t spell to the U.S. and Formosan maker are unable to import into the U.S. due to tariff impose on Chinese gondola . The result of the compounding of these two issue is that we have a limited selection of cheap electric vehicles uncommitted to us , which hinder competition and slow up EV adoption .
An even cheaper Model 3?
Of naturally , the news show begs the question : Could Tesla relinquish anevencheaper Model 3 ? It ’s intemperate to imagine this happening , look at the fact that the Model 3 is already so stripped down , and that if it did resign a gimcrack model , we would n’t want it to give things like range . A cheaper Model 3 could do by with thing like accent lighting altogether , or it could involve Tesla continuing to ship late - generation Model 3 railcar .
The more potential scenario , however , is that over sentence , the Model 3 will simply drop in price as challenger increases and things like battery technical school get cheaper . We ’ve already seen that happen over the past five years or so , especially with competition from the likes of Ford in the form ofthe Mustang Mach - E. It remains to be seen if the Model 3 can hit that $ 30,000 price stage or if Tesla releases the rumored Model 2 before that can happen .
In the lag , we ’re really hoping that the cheaper Model 3 variant make it to the US . Again , a meretricious example 3 would further repulse competition in the U.S. , while give it even more compelling for fresh elevator car purchaser to get into the humankind of EVs .
