Following speculation earlier this year that the Tesla compact EV would be scrapped, it seems as though it’s back on track for a 2025 reveal with the name Model Q.
- Tesla Compact EV could come in 2025
- Cybercab may not replace the regular model after all…
- Despite Elon Musk dubbing it “pointless”
- Fresh rumours suggest it’ll be called Model Q
- Likely to cost less than £30,000
Those of you who are excited for the launch of the new Tesla Compact EV have faced a rollercoaster of emotions this past year. First it seemed as though the car would be revealed in 2024, then Elon Musk threw the whole thing into doubt after the reveal of the Cybercab.
Well now there are fresh rumours that the Compact EV is still coming in 2025, despite Musk dubbing the entry-level model “pointless” as the brand moves towards full autonomy. There’s also speculation that a name has finally been decided on: the Model Q.
New Tesla Model Q: the story so far
You may be wondering what on earth is going on with Tesla’s new entry-level electric car, and you’re not alone – it’s been quite the journey.
Tesla has been promising a new, affordable electric hatchback for years now, with all-new technology and clever production methods which would drive the price down for customers. It was scheduled for a reveal in 2024, but then a report from Reuters suggested that Elon Musk planned to scrap the car in favour of the fully autonomous Cybercab.
Musk quickly took to X to dispel these rumours, simply posting “Reuters is lying”. He didn’t reference any specific inaccuracies.
Fast forward a few months and Tesla unveiled the Cybercab – a futuristic-looking self-driving car with no steering wheels or pedals. A few days later, during Tesla’s Q3 earnings call, an investor asked about the compact EV, specifically when it was due to arrive.
Musk’s answer to this question left us all scratching our heads. He said: “So, I think we’ve made very clear that the future is autonomous.
“I think having a regular $25K model is pointless. It would be silly. Like it would be completely at odds with what we believe.
“In an autonomous world, what matters is lowest cost per mile of efficiency of that vehicle. And that’s what we’ve done with the robotaxi.”
So this threw the future of the Compact EV into doubt, and you’d be forgiven for assuming that this was the end of the road for the sub-£24,000 model. Well now it seems as though it’s back on the cards.
New Tesla Model Q rumoured to be coming next year
That’s right, the rumour mill has been fired up again – this time by the Chinese media. There are reports that the new affordable electric car was discussed in a meeting between Tesla’s head of Investor Relations and Deutsche Bank.
A reporter from the Wall Street Journal claims to have obtained a copy of the report from this meeting, saying that the car could be called Model Q and that it’ll be launched in the first half of 2025.
I got a copy of the Deutsche Bank report.
Here’s what it does say:
1. @travisraxelrod met with DB for its Autonomous Driving Day on December 5 in NYC.
2. DB describes “the new Tesla model” which it calls “Model Q”.
3. DB says it will launch in the first half of 2025, and…— Becky Peterson (@beckpeterson) December 9, 2024
The report also allegedly states that the car will cost less than £24,000 with current US government subsidies, or just under £30,000 if President Donald Trump scraps the EV tax credit.
It’s worth bearing in mind that these reports haven’t been verified, but the renewed speculation gives Tesla fans new hope that the Model Q is still coming.
New Tesla Model Q tech specs
So what do we know about the new Tesla Model Q in terms of specs? Well not a huge amount for now. It’s highly likely that it’ll use the same underpinnings as the Cybercab, and the latest rumours suggest it’ll have around 300 miles of range.
The Model Q will also be built using a new manufacturing process which reduces the time and cost of production, allowing it to be cheaper for consumers. Each part of the car will be assembled in full, including paint, before being attached to the car at the end, which saves time compared to traditional methods where the car is partially assembled and then taken apart multiple times.
This car could also make use of the wireless technology first introduced on the Cybertruck. Rather than having miles of wiring going throughout the car, various features such as the lights are controlled by wireless transmitters dotted throughout the car, saving on both wiring and weight.
Elon Musk’s declaration that a non-autonomous car would be “pointless” also suggests that this car will be capable of full self-driving, just as the Model 3 and Y will be able to from next year. Just like those cars, and the Cybercab, you may also be able to rent your car out when you’re not using it to make some extra cash.
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