Here’s how Tesla can build its car at a low cost based on the Model Y

Tesla has just confirmed the arrival of a more affordable model, with a launch planned by early 2026 at the latest.

 What if this “under 25,000 euros” car already existed, in a simplified version of the brand’s compact SUV, the Tesla Model Y?

For years, rumors and speculation about a “small Tesla” at a low price, nicknamed Model 2, have ignited discussions. Giant chassis stamped in one piece, style inspired by the Cybertruck, usage as a robotaxi… Even Elon Musk spoke of it as a “cool,” “beautiful,” but above all “practical” car. “It is not meant to fill you with admiration and magic, but to take you from point A to point B,” he explained in October 2023. A project put on hold… but which seems to be reborn in another form.

Rather than developing a new model from scratch, why not focus on an ultra-simplified version of the Model Y, produced in very large numbers and already amortized? The idea: to strip the Model Y down to the essentials to lower the prices without starting from a blank slate.

A “light” Tesla Model Y, but not ridiculous

The Model Y is currently offered in France for just under 45,000 euros. But if we imagine a stripped-down version, the potential savings are numerous. We start by eliminating the unnecessary: seat ventilation, rear screen, wireless chargers, and even the panoramic roof – sealed, non-opening, without motorized blackout.

On the technology side, goodbye to standard Autopilot, matrix headlights, or the most expensive sensors. The same logic applies to the battery: the current LFP version of 60 kWh offers over 500 km of range, far too much for an entry-level model. Why not revert to a smaller pack, for example, a 45 kWh battery of the older generation, negotiated at a low price with BYD or CATL? With a speed limited to 150 km/h, a 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds, and a realistic range of 400 km, the proposal would remain perfectly credible.

Smaller battery = reduced weight = smaller and cheaper tires, simplified shock absorbers, lighter brakes… In short, the entire SUV is lightweight, making it simpler and cheaper to produce.

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We’re not quite there yet. But even at 30,000 euros, the idea of a “light Model Y” remains appealing: the design is nice, the SUV silhouette is reassuring, and the Tesla brand image is strong. Who cares about gadgets? At this price, the only thing that matters is driving a Model Y.

And perhaps that’s Tesla’s real stroke of genius: offering the essentials without inventing a new model, but by optimizing what already exists.

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