Tesla’s preparing to shake up the electric vehicle market with its most affordable car yet. The company’s Model 2 will start at around $11,570, making it Tesla’s cheapest offering by far. That’s less than a quarter of the Model Y‘s $46,880 base price.
The new vehicle looks similar to the Model Y but Tesla’s made major changes to cut costs. Engineers replaced the standard 12-volt electrical system with a 48-volt setup. This change alone reduced wiring weight by 66%. The company also developed new motors that don’t need rare-earth materials like neodymium. These motors save between $500 and $800 per car.
Tesla’s 48-volt system cuts wiring weight by 66% while new motors eliminate rare-earth materials, saving up to $800 per vehicle.
Tesla’s removing physical buttons and knobs from the interior. The software-defined framework eliminates more than half of the cockpit controls found in traditional cars. Drivers will use touchscreens for most functions, following the minimalist design of other Tesla models. The Model 2 will feature a 15.4-inch center touchscreen similar to current Tesla models for controlling all vehicle functions. Like the Model Y, the Model 2 won’t support Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, maintaining Tesla’s proprietary infotainment system.
While specific details about the Model 2’s performance remain limited, other Tesla vehicles offer strong benchmarks. The Model 3 can travel up to 346 miles on a single charge and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds with dual motors. The Model Y reaches 337 miles of range. Both models support Tesla’s Supercharger network, which adds 185 miles of range in just 15 minutes.
The Model 2 will likely seat five passengers, matching the Model 3’s configuration. It’ll use the same charging infrastructure as other Teslas, giving owners access to thousands of fast-charging stations.
Tesla’s new 48-volt system offers several advantages. It reduces power loss, supports advanced electronics, and makes the car lighter. The liquid-cooled battery technology in current models guarantees long life and consistent performance.
At $11,570, the Model 2 undercuts every major electric competitor. The Chevy Blazer EV starts at $54,295. Even traditional gas-powered economy cars can’t match this price point.
Tesla’s betting that dramatic cost reductions through engineering innovations will open electric vehicles to millions of new buyers who couldn’t afford them before.