Tesla’s upcoming $25,000 electric car and dedicated robotaxi vehicle are expected to have futuristic and ‘Cybertruck-like’ designs, according to details from a new authorized biography of Elon Musk.
Following the impending launch of the Cybertruck, Tesla has plans to introduce two highly-anticipated electric vehicles. The first is a smaller, more affordable electric car, often referred to as the “$25,000 Tesla model.” Elon Musk initially announced this vehicle at Tesla’s Battery Day in 2020, highlighting that the new 4680 battery technology would make it possible. It has also been linked to an electric hatchback produced at Gigafactory Shanghai, intended for global export. While originally planned for 2023, its release has been postponed due to Tesla’s focus on Model Y production and autonomous driving development.
The second vehicle is a “dedicated robotaxi” designed from the ground up for autonomous driving, lacking traditional pedals and a steering wheel. Tesla has been discussing the possibility of enabling all its consumer vehicles built since 2016 to become robotaxis through software updates. However, at Tesla’s Cyber Rodeo event in April 2022, Elon Musk announced plans to build a new vehicle specifically designed for robotaxi service.