Tesla Unveils Standard Model Y, Model 3 With $5K Price Cuts

Published OCT 8

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Above: Tesla Model 3 on display at the AutoSalon in Brussels, Belgium on Jan. 10, 2025. Image copyright: Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Tesla’s new Standard trims make EVs more accessible without sacrificing core appeal — 321 miles of range, solid acceleration, and key Tesla features at roughly $5,000 less. Thoughtful cuts like manual controls, textile seats, and a simplified rear cabin lower costs are balanced with keeping Supercharger access and safety systems intact. The Model Y remains immensely popular, helping Tesla recently outsell luxury giants like Mercedes-Benz for the first time in history.

Car and Driver X

Narrative B

Tesla’s new Standard trims reveal a company patching over declining sales with a stripped-down Model Y and Model 3. Features like Autosteer, rear screens, panoramic roofs, and leather seats are gone, leaving a bare-bones vehicle almost identical in price to rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5. In a crowded EV market, the $5,000 cut feels more like a bandage than a breakthrough, highlighting Tesla’s reliance on old models while Musk chases robotaxis and humanoid robots.

Edmunds InsideEVs