Who is ready to pay less for a Standard Tesla?
- Published on 16/12/2025 11:58
With the Standard Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla is making a bold bet: to attract customers with price, at the risk of diluting its reputation.
Tesla is no longer the manufacturer known for its rough finishes from its early days. The American brand has built, over the years, a solid and largely deserved reputation around onboard technology, electric efficiency, and a unique user experience. The arrival of the refreshed Model 3 and Model Y marked a true turning point. Perceived quality has increased, better fit and finishes, more flattering materials, and improved onboard comfort: Tesla had clearly corrected its course.
That’s precisely what makes the introduction of the new “Standard” versions difficult to understand. Tesla now offers cheaper Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, with a price positioning lowered by about 4,000 euros. Both ranges now have three well-defined levels: Standard, Premium, and Performance. This clearer reading and true effort to make the models more accessible comes with visible concessions. Fewer options, a more stripped-down interior design, and, in the case of the Standard Model Y, a glass roof that is now obscured.
Is Tesla still a premium brand?
From a technical perspective, the essentials are preserved. Comfortable WLTP range, propulsion, fast charging, and a connected ecosystem remain at the core of the offer. But the overall impression changes. Whereas the refreshed versions gave a sense of a deliberate upgrade, these Standard versions evoke a return to a form of constrained minimalism.
The central question is thus economic. For the buyer, the savings represent about 50 euros per month in long-term leasing or lease-to-own options. An ultimately modest amount when considering the compromises made regarding the onboard ambiance and perception of quality. Is this enough to convince? Nothing is less certain.
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In an increasingly competitive European market, Tesla is clearly trying to expand its customer base and remain competitive against new electric players. The strategy is defensible. But it raises a simple question: after working so hard to improve its cars, can Tesla really afford to offer less… for just a little less money?
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This page is translated from the original post "Qui est prêt à payer moins cher pour une Tesla Standard ?" in French.
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