Tesla executives gathered for the company’s third-quarter financial results webcast, where Elon Musk shared new insights on what would have been a “cheap Tesla” priced at $25,000—but with a significant shift in plans.
- Musk made it clear, stating, “Basically, having a regular $25k model is pointless.”
- Instead, the upcoming CyberCab will take the place of this cheap Tesla, fully tailored for autonomous driving.
For those hoping for a budget-friendly Tesla to drive themselves, it seems that vision may not come to fruition. Although Tesla previously discussed a $25,000 model, Musk indicated during the webcast that the company is moving in a new direction for this affordable model.
Rumors that the cheap Tesla might be shelved initially surfaced after a report from Reuters earlier this year. However, Musk confirmed the shift in Tesla’s approach, explaining, “We’re not making a non-robotaxi. I think we’ve made it very clear that the future is autonomous.” Musk envisions a market where battery-electric, self-driving cars are the norm, likening traditional, manually driven vehicles to horse ownership.
To meet the demand for a lower-cost option, Tesla will introduce the CyberCab—a vehicle that will retain the approximate price of a cheap Tesla but without traditional controls like a steering wheel or pedals, meaning it will be fully autonomous. Musk optimistically projected that the CyberCab should be available on public roads by 2027.
Regarding the price, Musk stated, “It will cost roughly $25K, so it is a $25K car. You will be able to buy one exclusively if you want—it just won’t have manual controls.”
Given Musk’s well-known optimism regarding Tesla’s production timelines, the pricing and availability of the CyberCab remain points to watch closely as it progresses in development. You can catch the full webcast of the financial call in the embedded video above for more details.
