Tesla teaser - cheap model Y or something else?

[hemiarch]

The Standard Model Y and 3 are going to be low volume cars at $40k and $37k. The value proposition is missing from both vehicles.

My hunch is that both will follow the same path as the now discontinued $70k RWD Cybertruck.

Not if they achieve autonomy like they say they are. The value proposition will come from the ability to run FSD. What Hyundai or Kia will be able to do that?

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[SCTesla]

Not if they achieve autonomy like they say they are. The value proposition will come from the ability to run FSD. What Hyundai or Kia will be able to do that?

That's in the future and who knows how far in the future?

Currently FSD doesn't sell on the low end of the market. It's the big advantage with Tesla, but the take rate is really low, especially with the 3/Y.

 

[hemiarch]

That's in the future and who knows how far in the future?

Currently FSD doesn't sell on the low end of the market. It's the big advantage with Tesla, but the take rate is really low, especially with the 3/Y.

Fair but in reality I think that’s what makes it an outstanding deal. FSD, autonomous or not. Whether or not that portion of the market comes to appreciate that idea remains to be seen but you’re right, seems like an uphill battle.

 

[ABILISK]

My hunch is that both will follow the same path as the now discontinued $70k RWD Cybertruck.

This. 100%. Not that the Standard models aren’t a good value, just that the price isn’t low enough to justify what you lose by not going for a now “premium” model. Y Standard v. Y Premium RWD is only a $5K difference, and with the premium model you get:

• more range
• a better sound system
• FM radio
• a rear screen
• a glass roof
• more storage in the center console
• a power-adjust steering wheel
• some suede interior decor
• a HEPA filter
• second-row touchscreen-adjust air vents
• seats are full leather - front are ventilated and rears are heated
• second row can fold automatically
• adaptive high beams
• power folding mirrors
• frequency dependent shock absorbers
• Autosteer

That’s lots of stuff, and Tesla estimates a $72 difference in the monthly payments.

So yeah, I’d say this thing is DoA and will just push people towards the premium - just like CT did.

 

[SCTesla]

Fair but in reality I think that’s what makes it an outstanding deal. FSD, autonomous or not. Whether or not that portion of the market comes to appreciate that idea remains to be seen but you’re right, seems like an uphill battle.

FSDS is $8k more...we have no idea how much more Unsupervised will be. I think people who are looking to budget vehicles aren't ok spending $8k on driver assist. The thing that sucks is there is no Autosteer and they could get a Hyundai with lane assist for less than a MY.

 

[hemiarch]

You’re right. Tesla needs to include FSD with this thing if they want to dominate the market in this price range.
People at this price point won’t be ok paying $99 a month either.
Now, if you tell them that for $99 bucks a month they get access to something like a luxe package including FSD and free gas, maybe.
Point is, as many of you are pointing out, they need to do something to add value to this thing if they are going to sell it for $40k.

 

[henchman24]

I think the 3 Standard is a solid deal, and honestly, I'd prefer it over the RWD Premium for the price. The Y Standard would lose too much for me to consider it at the price. If it was the price of the 3 Standard, I think it would seem about aright.

 

[YDR37]

Even some of the decisions like putting cloth on the roof to cover the glass (permanently) instead of making it metal.

Yeah, that move is a bit of a head-scratcher. I'm not usually impressed by the commentary on Jalopnik, but in this case they may have a point:

Tesla Model Y Standard Has A Glass Roof You're Not Allowed To See Out Of

... On the plus side, it still has the same panoramic glass roof that every Model Y has had in the past. There's just one problem: you can't see out of it, since Tesla covered it up with a headliner. You poors don't get to see the sun, sorry to say.

Since the exterior is still glass, I'd be very interested to know what it looks like up close. I've gotta assume Tesla finished it in some way, and it's not just going to be a weird gluey fastener-laden mess underneath, but you never know. Someone go find me a rube who is going to buy a Model Y so I can look at their car, please.

When asked why the hell they did this by Car & Driver at a launch event that Jalopnik (probably rightfully) wasn't invited to, a spokesperson for the company said it was more cost-effective than designing and installing a fixed metal roof. I mean, I'm sure that's the case, but wouldn't logic dictate that the most cost-effective thing would be to leave the panoramic roof alone?

 

[CyberGus]

I don't think comparing these to the ill-fated CTLR is valid. The "low cost" truck was missing both air suspension and the tonneau, which are killer features.

Half the stuff removed from the 3 and Y are only relevant to back-seat passengers. Since those are usually kids, they don't get a vote lol.

Believe it or not, there are people that DGAF about the sound system.

You can never have enough range, but even the reduced range is more than enough for daily commutes. I've only charged above 50% SoC a handful of times for road trips.

Until I got the CT, I went my entire life without powered windows, or mirrors, or steering wheel, or seats. And I still don't have matrix headlights lol.

Heck, they could probably chop a few thousand more off the price if they removed the cameras, computer and all the autonomy hardware, but... then it would barely be a Tesla.

 

[CyberGus]

just seems like a misstep by Tesla. Even some of the decisions like putting cloth on the roof to cover the glass (permanently) instead of making it metal.

Yeah, that move is a bit of a head-scratcher.

I'm guessing they covered the glass roof to improve AC efficiency, so that the reduced pack size would have less impact on the rated range.

The stock dropped $20 since the announcement because most don't think this will help Tesla sell many more vehicles and it shouldn't have been so hyped by the company and just probably posted online, silently, instead.

The stock rose $20 pre-announcement because speculators were hoping for a flying Optimus or some crazy shit. The reality erased the bump. Agreed it was an odd flex by Tesla ("Coming Soon: something almost exactly the same!!")

 

[YDR37]

I'm guessing they covered the glass roof to improve AC efficiency, so that the reduced pack size would have less impact on the rated range.

OK, that could make sense. But then the next question is ... why did they leave the panoramic glass roof uncovered on the new Model 3 Standard RWD?

 

[SCTesla]

OK, that could make sense. But then the next question is ... why did they leave the panoramic glass roof uncovered on the new Model 3 Standard RWD?

They used the normal HVAC in the M3, the smaller, "more efficient" in the MY. MY has new motors, too...M3 does not.

 

[henchman24]

Yeah, that move is a bit of a head-scratcher. I'm not usually impressed by the commentary on Jalopnik, but in this case they may have a point:

The covering up of the glass roof is not just about blocking it. It is really an efficiency and NVH thing more than anything else. They were very clearly trying to pull as much range out of this Y as possible. It has a new drive unit with less drive inverters (though of the highest quality), 18" wheels, super low rolling resistance tires... and the blocking of the sun (with a very minor amount of insulation) allows less HVAC use. So that is part of it, gathering every little bit of efficiency they can. Simultaneously, they made a number of decisions that will impact NVH negatively with the glass choices of going single pane all around, taking out the carpet from the rear doors, and not including the package shelf. Having a headliner will offset some of that.

Cost wise, they'd also likely have to re-certify the car with a steel roof and this glass roof is more like the old Model Y without the special coatings. It is simply a much smaller cost of development.

I know that doesn't fit with the click/ragebait that Jalopnik throws out there, but it was a more complex set of decisions than cover up glass roof for the poors.

 

[henchman24]

OK, that could make sense. But then the next question is ... why did they leave the panoramic glass roof uncovered on the new Model 3 Standard RWD?

Because they didn't need to do that to hit efficiency targets.

(and this M3 is basically the Mexico base version with a different battery pack... it was released there over a year ago)

 

[YDR37]

I don't think comparing these to the ill-fated CTLR is valid. The "low cost" truck was missing both air suspension and the tonneau, which are killer features.

Half the stuff removed from the 3 and Y are only relevant to back-seat passengers. Since those are usually kids, they don't get a vote lol.

Believe it or not, there are people that DGAF about the sound system.

You can never have enough range, but even the reduced range is more than enough for daily commutes. I've only charged above 50% SoC a handful of times for road trips.

Until I got the CT, I went my entire life without powered windows, or mirrors, or steering wheel, or seats. And I still don't have matrix headlights lol.

I get what you're saying. The new MY/M3 Standard RWDs aren't missing any killer features. I agree that they will sell, because some people will take the $5,000/$5,500 savings relative to the MY/M3 Premium RWDs.

But that's not a total win, because it means that the MY/M3 Standard RWDs will cannibalize sales of the more expensive models. Ideally, the new inexpensive trims would bring in new customers that wouldn't otherwise consider a Tesla. Not sure that they are priced low enough to do that. The Standard RWDs (without the tax credit) still cost more than the Premium RWDs did last month (with the credit). So they aren't breaking any new ground in terms of affordability.

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