Tesla's Upcoming Small EV Will Be The Total Opposite Of The Cybertruck

Oct. 21, 2023 12:07 PM ET byKarl Furlong Video /11 Comments

Smaller, simpler, cheaper, and much easier to build.

In Tesla's recent webcast, Elon Musk spoke about the company's upcoming entry-level platform - set to underpin a cheaper EV and robotaxi - saying it will be far more "conventional" than the complex,stainless steel-bodied Cybertruck. The advantage of this could be a faster production ramp-up of the cheaper model.

"The high-volume, low-cost, smaller vehicle is actually much more conventional," said Musk at around the 34:54-minute mark in the video below. He compared the simpler car to the production challenges posed by the Cybertruck's stainless steel panels, 9,000-ton castings, and massive hot stamping.

Far fewer parts will also contribute to the new EV being easier to produce.

Deliveries of the Cybertruckhave been confirmed to begin on November 30, four years since it was revealed. Tesla obviously wants to avoid a repeat of the Cybertruck's lengthy gestation period with its smaller, cheaper car. The baby Tesla could use the Model 2 name, but this is also unconfirmed. As for whether Tesla will be able to achieve the $25,000 starting price, the simplified, faster production techniques Musk mentioned could be the key.

"We're doing everything possible to simplify [the smaller Tesla] in order to achieve a units-per-minute level that is unheard of in the auto industry," said Musk.

TheCybertruckaside, Tesla's ability to ramp up production has been extraordinary. It produced its five-millionth car in September, only six months after hitting the four-million mark.

Regarding the new Tesla's design, we still have no idea what it looks like, but Musk has given us some insight into this, too.

"It's not meant to fill you with awe and magic," said the Tesla boss of the upcoming EV's design. "It's to get you from A to B." He further described it as having a "cool" and "beautiful" yet "utilitarian" design.

Besides its first truck, none of Tesla's cars can be described as having groundbreaking designs, but their clean styling cues generally age well and haven't stopped people from flocking to buy them. Consider theModel S, which still looks remarkably fresh, considering it's not drastically different from the car that arrived over a decade ago.

Tesla's new EV doesn't yet have a defined release date, and no further specifications were shared. Despite its positioning in Tesla's lineup, it will come with advanced self-driving technology, with Musk previously saying it willmainly operate as an autonomous vehicle.