Everything we know about Tesla’s new model launching this week
Tesla is planning to launch a new vehicle this week, which is expected to be a new base variant of the Model Y – often referred to as a “stripped-down Model Y.”
Here’s everything we know about the new electric vehicle.
Tesla’s new “more affordable models”
Tesla has been talking about launching new “more affordable models” during the first half of the year.
The first half of 2025 came and went without new, cheaper models. Instead, Tesla claimed that the “first build” of the new model was produced in June, and it will launch later this year.
Now, it is finally upon us.
A few teasers released over the last two days confirm that Tesla plans to launch a new vehicle on Tuesday, October 7th.
Everything suggests that it is not a new “model” but rather a new base variant of the Model Y.
There has been confusion surrounding what Tesla plans to release, and CEO Elon Musk has been largely responsible for it. The CEO announced at Tesla’s Battery Day in 2020 that the automaker was working on delivering a “$25,000 electric car.”
However, as we have been reporting for a year, Musk canceled Tesla’s planned “$25,000 EV” in favor of stripped-down versions of its Model 3 and Model Y.
When it was first reported that the vehicle program was canceled, Musk denied the news.
Due to Tesla still referring to them as “new, more affordable models”, many people believed that Tesla would still bring to market new, cheaper models.
Musk finally confirmed that the first “new affordable model” is in fact simply a Model Y back in July.
While Tesla first intended to launch the new cheaper variants in the first half of the year, we reported that the automaker would likely wait until Q4 as it benefited from inflated demand in Q3 due to the tax credit for electric vehicles going away.
Tesla’s E41 stripped-down Model Y
We already know almost everything about the new stripped-down Model Y. Prototypes have been spotted for months, and recently, Tesla didn’t bother to camouflage them.
Images and specs have also leaked through Tesla’s software and website.
As for the design, it features a simplified front and back and loses the lightbars that were introduced in the Model Y design refresh earlier this year.
There’s no glass roof, which is currently standard on the Model Y.
The wheels also appear to be cheaper-looking, with a visible wheel cover. Although there might be a fancier one available based on one of the teasers:
Inside, Tesla is expected to use cheaper materials, specifically textiles on the seats, a simplified fiberglass headliner, less cabin lighting, and single-axis seat controls.
Furthermore, the vehicle is expected to have a lesser audio system and no screen for the second row.
The stripped-down Model Y is also believed to be losing a power-folding mirror and be equipped with a downgraded suspension.
As for the specs, Tesla is likely going to stick to a rear-wheel-drive motor, but with a smaller LFP battery pack than in the one in the current base version of the Model Y.
We can expect a range of between 250 and 300 miles (400-485 km).
Electrek’s Take
The biggest unknown is the price. Tesla is cutting a lot of features here.
Considering the current Model Y Long Range RWD starts at $45,000 in the US, we should expect a much cheaper price.
I think it needs to be between $30,000 and $35,000. If it’s more than that, it will be a redo of the Cybertruck RWD, which only lasted a few months.
We need to keep in mind that the Model Y Long Range RWD was $37,500 in the US with the tax credit last week.
If Tesla is closer to $30,000, it is a win, but if it is higher than $35,000, it is a big loss.
I was hoping for an event with a chance for a “one more thing” moment, but it doesn’t even look like Tesla is planning an event to unveil this. The automaker only mentioned the date, October 7th, without a time for an event.
The automaker brought a group of Tesla influencers to Gigafactory Texas last week, most likely to showcase this vehicle.
Therefore, I expect a launch on the website and social media, featuring content from influencers, as well as a few select outlets, such as Jay Leno’s Garage and Motor Trend, depending on how Tesla feels about them at the moment.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Environment
Trilogy Metals shares soar nearly 200% in premarket after U.S. takes stake in minerals explorer
On today’s budget-conscious episode of Quick Charge, we’re building up to the reveal of a new, more affordable Tesla Model Y tomorrow that will almost definitely not be a cheap pile of misaligned plastic body parts with inconsistent panel gaps that’s utterly incapable of turning the tide on Tesla’s global decline.
Plus, we’ve got news that Tesla is in hot water with California over its alleged mishandling of its insurance business, revisit the lies told about Cybertrucks drag racing Teslas, and look at the incredible 110% increase in EV sales over at GM that’s driving Cadillac’s renaissance.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit the site at CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
Source Links
Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.
New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (most weeks, anyway). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.
Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Waev Inc. has just unveiled the GEM eX, a new electric utility vehicle designed to bridge the gap between street-legal low-speed vehicles (LSVs) and true off-road work machines. The company calls it the most versatile electric work UTV yet.
Unlike most golf cart–based UTVs or high-speed recreational rigs, the GEM eX is purpose-built for commercial, industrial, and government fleets that need to move between city streets, job sites, and rough terrain, all while staying emissions-free.
The vehicle features a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) and is said to be DOT street-legal as an LSV on roads up to 35 mph (56 km/h), giving it a clear advantage over most off-road-only competitors.
Power is provided by a 6.5 kW motor in a rear-wheel drive setup with a limited-slip rear differential. An 8 kWh battery provides enough juice for a claimed maximum range of 85 miles (137 km).
The eX comes with several fleet-focused safety and utility upgrades, including 3-point seat belts, roof crush protection, backup camera, mirrors, pedestrian noise emitter, and a robust bumper system. It rolls on street, winter, or all-terrain tires, and the chassis features 9.5 inches (24 cm) of ground clearance, 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) of suspension travel, and a 50-degree approach angle for climbing curbs or crossing uneven work terrain.
Hill-hold assist and single-pedal descent control make it easy to handle on slopes, while a limited-slip differential helps maintain traction without chewing up turf.
In the back, a 1,250 lb (567 kg) composite dump box can fit a full-sized pallet and comes with gas-assist or electric lift options, while towing capacity matches that at 1,250 lb (567 kg). Optional hard doors, roll-down windows, and HVAC with heat and A/C turn it into a true all-weather workhorse.
The lithium iron phosphate battery pack is said to provide a long lifespan for extra durability in extreme climates from –20°F to 140°F (–29°C to 60°C). Charging is flexible via 120V, 240V, or J1772 public stations, and Waev backs the battery with a 7-year warranty – on par with many passenger EVs.
“We field-tested the GEM eX everywhere from Arizona deserts to Minnesota winters,” said Sven Etzelsberger, Waev’s Director of Engineering. “Every piece of customer feedback went back into this vehicle. The result is a work UTV that’s refined, reliable, and ready to go.”
The GEM platform has expanded significantly over the years, from its humble beginnings as a simple people mover to more recent adaptations into everything from ambulances and emergency vehicles to the new GEM eX electric UTV.
Priced at $24,955, the higher purchase price may be one of the few downsides to the quieter, cleaner, and easier to maintain alternative to traditional gasoline-powered UTVs.
Electrek’s Take
Waev’s new GEM eX seems to hit a sweet spot that’s been missing – a street-legal, electric work UTV tough enough for real jobs yet affordable and easy to maintain. For fleet managers juggling both paved and off-road environments, this could be a serious game-changer.
While the price is high, it comes in at significantly less than other well-known models like Polaris’ Zero-powered electric RANGER UTV.
At the same time, there are still more affordable options like those from KANDI that offer more power for a lower price. However, without GEM’s storied brand legacy and increased national support, cheaper options may not have the staying power to compete.
So sure, it’s expensive, but at least I’m glad to see more options coming to the market, especially from brands that have been around for years. Here’s to hoping for more affordable options in the future.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports2 years agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports3 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment1 year agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024