3 Very Good Critiques of Tesla's Affordable Model Expectations - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica discusses critical perspectives on Tesla’s delayed rollout of more affordable electric vehicle models, which were initially promised for production in the first half of 2025 but have yet to appear. A key critique, offered by reader “dashpol,” questions the strategic logic behind Tesla pursuing significantly cheaper models. Dashpol argues that the Model 3 is already compact by U.S. standards, and further cost-cutting—such as converting it into a hatchback—would not yield substantial savings and might reduce range. Moreover, competing against low-cost hatchbacks in Europe, the U.S., or China seems unlikely to succeed given Tesla’s brand identity, which is built around sleek, high-tech, performance-oriented vehicles rather than pragmatic, budget-friendly small cars. Dashpol also suggests Tesla could instead focus on larger vehicles like station wagons, vans, or affordable three-row SUVs, which align better with the brand and market demand. Another important point raised by Geoff Willingham highlights the risk of cann