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Expected to be priced cheaper than the 'Model 3'
U.S. electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is expected to release a new, more affordable and smaller sports utility vehicle (SUV) than its existing models.
Reuters reported on the 9th (local time), citing multiple sources, that Tesla has recently been discussing plans with suppliers for the development of a new small SUV, different from the existing 'Model 3' and 'Model Y'.
This model will be 4,280mm in length, making it smaller than Tesla's mid-size SUV, the 'Model Y' (4,790mm). Its weight is expected to be around 1.5 tons, lighter than the 'Model Y' which weighs approximately 2 tons.
The price is also expected to be lower.
According to sources, the price of the small SUV will be set significantly lower than the 'Model 3', currently Tesla's most affordable sedan. The current U.S. price for the 'Model 3' is $37,000 (approximately 54.51 million KRW), and the China price is around $34,000.
Tesla plans to reduce costs by incorporating a smaller battery than before. However, as the battery becomes smaller, the driving range will also be shorter than the existing 'Model Y'.
Vehicle production is scheduled to take place at the Shanghai factory in China, with plans to expand production in the United States and Europe as well.
This is not the first time Tesla has announced plans for a low-cost model.
Several years ago, it announced plans to produce a $25,000 low-cost electric car, sometimes called the 'Model 2', but scrapped this plan in 2024.
At the time, Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, explained that producing entry-level vehicles would be meaningless as he planned to introduce autonomous self-driving cars soon.
To date, Tesla's robotaxi (unmanned taxi) service has only been operating in a limited capacity in restricted areas such as Austin, Texas.
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