Rumors about a Tesla Model Q, a sub-$30,000 electric car, are emerging in China as the automaker is expected to unveil a few cars early next year.
Earlier this year, we reported that Elon Musk had canceled plans for new, cheaper Tesla vehicles built on the new ‘unboxed’ platform, often referred to as “the $25,000 Tesla.”
He has instead pushed for two new vehicle programs that incorporate some of the features of the new platform, but they are still primarily based on the Model 3/Y platform – so much so that they will be built on the same production lines.
These currently unnamed new vehicles are expected to be cheaper than Model 3/Y, which currently start at $43,000 before incentives. They are expected to be released in the first half of 2025.
Now, some reports from China claim that Tesla still plans to release a new vehicle on the unboxed platform – although we remain skeptical.
More specifically, the reports alleged that Tesla’s head of investor relations, Travis Axelrod, revealed that the new vehicle is going to be called ‘Model Q’:
During the investor meeting with Deutsche Bank attended by Tesla’s Head of Investor Relations, Travis Axelrod, Tesla announced formal plans to launch a new vehicle called “Model Q” in the first half of next year.
They also claim that it is codenamed “Redwood” and will be 15% smaller and 30% lighter than Model 3.
It will also reportedly be equipped with a LFP battery pack available in 53 kWh and 75 kWh configurations as well as single and dual-motor variants.
It is expected to be priced at less than 30,000 USD (218,000 CNY).
Electrek’s Take
I give very little credibility to this report. It would be extremely surprising for Tesla’s IR head to reveal this information to a bank.
Furthermore, Tesla confirmed that it doesn’t plan to make a vehicle on its unboxed platform other than the Cybercab for now.
Tesla is expected to release the two new EVs in the first half of 2025 so there might be some confusion with those.
Finally, Model Q is also a terrible name.
What do you think? Let us know in the comment section below.
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