Tesla has managed to propel its Model Y to first place in the ranking of the best-selling models in Europe in 2023. This is the first time that a car superior to the C segment has established itself on the European market, where models more compact and more affordable are preferred.
Suffice to say that the arrival of a Tesla smaller than the Model 3 and Model Y is highly anticipated and that it could sell like hot cakes in Europe, but not only. The project has been mentioned many times by Elon Musk, although recent Tesla news is primarily focused on the Cybertruck pickup, which targets the North American market.
Reuters reports, however, that this more affordable car, known by the code name Redwood, could be produced from mid-2025. According to four sources familiar with the matter, this is the date that would have been communicated to suppliers from Tesla, and two sources specify that it would be a compact crossover. Of course, even if this information is 100% reliable, there is no guarantee that this deadline will be respected.
Towards a call price of $25,000?
If Tesla manages to reproduce the very aggressive positioning of the Model Y, this new vehicle would therefore have all the assets to challenge European manufacturers, but it will also have to face Chinese competition. It remains to be seen how much it costs. Tesla has long discussed the possibility of producing a model for less than $25,000, a price comparable to that of the Citroën ë-C3, the next Renault 5 E-Tech electric and the future production version of the Volkswagen ID concept. . 2all.
Let us remember, however, that the famous Model 3 promised at $35,000 only became reality in the form of a software-restricted version and offered for only a few months. We should therefore not expect Tesla to compete with the ë-C3, R5 and ID.2 with this new model, which will also be much more versatile. The electric compact crossover segment corresponds to that of the Kia Niro EV and Renault Scenic E-Tech electric, for example, which measure just over 4.40 m. The Model Y and its 4.75 m length is sold in France from €42,990, excluding ecological bonus, following a recent price reduction.
We do not yet know the final name of this new Redwood model, nor its technical characteristics. It should be joined by at least one other accessible model, which will be based on the new NV9X architecture. Good news, these electric cars, more affordable than current Teslas, will be produced in Berlin, Germany, like the Model Y. This will allow them to free themselves from certain measures aimed at favoring locally produced models. The Tesla Model 3 was, for example, excluded from the ecological bonus in France, due to its production in China deemed too polluting.