SAN FRANCISCO/NEW DELHI/SEOUL April 18 (Reuters) - Tesla’s long-awaited plans for an affordable car include a U.S-made, stripped-down version of its best-selling electric SUV, the Model Y, but the production launch has been delayed, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Tesla (TSLA.O) has promised affordable vehicles beginning in the first half of the year, providing a potential boost to flagging sales. Global production of the lower-cost Model Y, internally codenamed E41, is expected to begin in the United States, the sources said. That would occur at least a few months later than outlined in Tesla’s public plan, they added, offering a range of revised targets from the third quarter to early next year.

  • utopiah@lemmy.ml
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    15 hours ago

    long-awaited plans for an affordable car

    You mean the 1, ONE, single, as in nothing else really matter, thing that gave any modicum of decency to Musk despite all this BS over the years and was again the very reason one could have been excited about him making Tesla so much more famous (not popular, as in… affordable) is actually not happening? Sorry, in Musk parlance, is happening next year?

    shocked Pikachu face

    I honestly feel disgusted because, even though I do not have a car, when Musk on ramped Tesla I was cheering for him. I do NOT think cars are the solution BUT if we have no other choice, I was naively thinking electric cars, specifically NOT fancy elitism expensive coupe or sedans, but rather affordable ones was one potential path. Meanwhile, years later, if I look by the window outside where I live, in Belgium, we do have electric plugs in the street (nice!) which are sadly used by a … fancy EV. At the same time in the city center the silent (literally) revolution have been electric bikes, especially cargo bikes and longtails. So many of those now used.

    So tiring that CEOs of large company can claim vaporware constantly without any consequences. It’s damaging to entire ecosystem they overshadow. They already have economical power by their cheer scale but they also abuse the mindshare of potential customers and regulators. We need to hold them accountable to false claims, claims that are indefinitely delayed and it has to hurt the bottom line of their companies.

  • JeremyHuntQW12@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    There isn’t any way you can make a Y/3 much cheaper, its an inherently expensive design, being essentially a cut down Model X. The fact that they lack the resources to make a new platform seems telling.

    • hoshikarakitaridia@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Tbf “our CEO went off making hitler salutes, dismantling our government and issuing shady deals with rich people” is one hell of an excuse. Probably the best one yet for Tesla.

      On a serious node, I feel bad for the engineers who came there to do something great and never got to follow through on it. There’s some geniuses working there that should get more deference.

      • Bilb!@lem.monster
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        2 days ago

        I don’t. They get a nice paycheck regardless and they choose to continue working for a psychotic asshole. You do have responsibility for that choice.

  • ripcord@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    wow no way

    Well, at least they’re on track for robotaxis by June. Also, full self driving by 2016.

  • Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 days ago

    Yawn. Let me know when they announce their substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.