{"id":58250,"date":"2026-04-09T14:02:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/tesla-killed-its-25k-car-now-its-building-a-new-cheap-suv\/09\/04\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T14:02:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T18:02:52","slug":"tesla-killed-its-25k-car-now-its-building-a-new-cheap-suv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/tesla-killed-its-25k-car-now-its-building-a-new-cheap-suv\/09\/04\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Tesla Killed Its $25K Car \u2013 Now It\u2019s Building a New Cheap SUV"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tesla.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Tesla;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Tesla&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Tesla<\/a> contacted suppliers about developing a new affordable electric SUV, according to Reuters \u2014 a stunning reversal after CEO <strong>Elon Musk<\/strong> canceled the company\u2019s <strong>$25,000<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/04\/09\/tesla-is-developing-a-new-smaller-cheaper-ev.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:\u201cModel 2\u201d;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;\u201cModel 2\u201d&quot;}\" class=\"link \">\u201cModel 2\u201d<\/a> in 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">The whiplash feels familiar if you\u2019ve been waiting for Tesla to deliver on its affordable EV promises. Musk dismissed cheap <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gadgetreview.com\/what-car-really-costs-less-gas-vs-diesel-vs-electric\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:electric vehicles;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;electric vehicles&quot;}\" class=\"link \">electric vehicles<\/a> as \u201cpointless\u201d in 2024, pivoting resources toward robotaxis and humanoid robots instead. Now Tesla apparently wants back in the budget game, planning to build this mystery SUV first in China, then expand to US and European factories.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color\">The Model 2 That Never Was<\/h2>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Tesla\u2019s promised $25,000 electric car became another casualty of Musk\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/globalchinaev.com\/post\/teslas-first-autonomous-factory-to-customer-delivery-scheduled-for-june\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:autonomous vehicle;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;autonomous vehicle&quot;}\" class=\"link \">autonomous vehicle<\/a> obsession.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Remember when Tesla promised a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kbb.com\/car-news\/reports-tesla-abandons-inexpensive-car-plan\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:$25,000 electric car;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;$25,000 electric car&quot;}\" class=\"link \">$25,000 electric car<\/a>? That vehicle \u2014 internally called the <strong>NV91<\/strong> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.caranddriver.com\/news\/a60428602\/tesla-model-2-affordable-ev-canceled\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:\u201cModel 2\u201d;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;\u201cModel 2\u201d&quot;}\" class=\"link \">\u201cModel 2\u201d<\/a> \u2014 got canceled in 2024. Musk decided pursuing full autonomy made more sense than chasing mass-market sales. The company\u2019s \u201cunboxed process\u201d manufacturing platform, designed specifically for cheap EVs, suddenly became robotaxi infrastructure instead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Tesla tried splitting the difference with stripped-down versions of existing models. The current <strong>Model 3 Standard<\/strong> starts at <strong>$36,990<\/strong>, while the <strong>Model Y Standard<\/strong> hits <strong>$39,990<\/strong>. These \u201caffordable\u201d variants cost roughly <strong>20% less<\/strong> to produce than premium versions, but they sacrifice features like Autosteer and even AM radio. Without federal tax credits, you\u2019re still looking at nearly $40,000 for basic electric transportation.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color\">Market Reality Bites<\/h2>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Tesla\u2019s quarterly delivery numbers reveal the truth behind its premium-only strategy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Tesla\u2019s sales numbers tell the real story. <strong>First quarter 2025<\/strong> deliveries rose year-over-year but dropped <strong>14%<\/strong> from the previous quarter \u2014 a pattern suggesting demand problems rather than production constraints. Meanwhile, competitors like GM and Ford are targeting genuinely <strong>sub-$30,000<\/strong> EVs, making Tesla\u2019s \u201caffordable\u201d offerings look expensive by comparison.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">The robotaxi dream that supposedly justified canceling cheap cars remains mostly that \u2014 a dream. Tesla\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/2026\/02\/19\/tesla-claimed-first-autonomous-car-delivery-8-months-ago-and-never-did-it-again\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Full Self-Driving;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Full Self-Driving&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Full Self-Driving<\/a> operates under supervision only in Austin, despite Musk\u2019s promises of coast-to-coast autonomy. The technology has logged <strong>9.1 billion miles<\/strong> but needs <strong>10 billion<\/strong> for unsupervised validation.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"heading-mb col-body heading-text-style font-bold charcoal-color\">What This Means for Your Wallet<\/h2>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">Tesla\u2019s supplier outreach suggests the company finally heard what budget-conscious buyers have been screaming.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">If you\u2019ve been holding off on an EV purchase waiting for Tesla\u2019s mythical cheap car, this supplier outreach suggests the company finally acknowledges what the market keeps screaming: people want affordable electric vehicles. Whether Tesla actually delivers this time depends on your faith in a company that\u2019s canceled affordable EV plans multiple times already.<\/p>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\">The smart move? Keep watching, but don\u2019t pause your EV shopping for Tesla\u2019s next promise.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"col-body my-4\"\/>\n<p class=\"col-body mb-4 leading-7 text-[18px] md:leading-8 break-words min-w-0 charcoal-color\"><i>From the coolest cars to the must-have gadgets, GadgetReview\u2019s daily newsletter keeps you in the know. <a href=\"https:\/\/magic.beehiiv.com\/v1\/498b1753-f498-481f-9697-76102b6b7e5c?email=%7B%7Bemail%7D%7D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Subscribe - it\u2019s fun, fast, and free;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Subscribe - it\u2019s fun, fast, and free&quot;}\" class=\"link \"><b>Subscribe &#8211; it\u2019s fun, fast, and free<\/b><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/autos.yahoo.com\/ev-and-future-tech\/articles\/tesla-killed-25k-car-now-172856937.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tesla contacted suppliers about developing a new affordable electric SUV, according to Reuters &mdash; a stunning reversal after CEO Elon Musk canceled<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/tesla-killed-its-25k-car-now-its-building-a-new-cheap-suv\/09\/04\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":58251,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/kBrS5B0o8jQhMyzLSmrRvw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyMDA7aD02Nzk-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/gadget_review_articles_822\/9eab3770138d3a36bd6e85dccc94340e","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58250"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58250"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58250\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58251"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58250"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58250"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58250"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}