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by novok 2464 days ago
Really? The gap isn’t that much, about $2200 looking at a before subsidy price. And the interior of the korean EVS are pretty cheap compared to the model 3, so if tesla wanted to they could make a tesla that uses cheap materials and doesn’t ship with special sensors. Call it the model 1.

What holds me back is more a unknown / bad record of reliability with tesla and a lack of charging infrastructure in apartments for me.
1 comments
clouddrover 2464 days ago
> so if tesla wanted to they could make a tesla that uses cheap materials and doesn’t ship with special sensors. Call it the model 1.

Could they? So why don't they? The 35k Model 3 didn't go too well. Why will this Model 1 do better for Tesla?

It's difficult to target multiple segments simultaneously. You need the scale of a company like Volkswagen to do it successfully. Tesla is headed for a decision point on the kind of car company they want to be. They'll probably choose to stay low volume:

https://www.thedrive.com/tech/29960/teslas-hero-cycle-leads-...

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novok 2464 days ago
The reason why is because they were not targeting creating a low end bog standard plastic cheap car that the kona represents for the model 3. The cabin differences would have to be too big to deliver it as a trim.

Technologically I would see the model 1 being mostly the same platform as the model 3 with a cabin expressly designed for cheapness everywhere. So standard handles, standard ac, a 2 din stereo, everything plastic, only mirrors and cloth and no power seats. Kind of like the iphone xr with aluminum and an LCD. Make a platform variation is not that difficult.

That would make it bridge the gap and probably beat the kona price wise

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clouddrover 2464 days ago
> The cabin differences would have to be too big to deliver it as a trim.

So it's too difficult for Tesla to deliver. You agree with me: Hyundai's got Tesla beat on range at the price point.

> That would make it bridge the gap and probably beat the kona price wise

"Probably" is not a practical reality. The car you're talking about doesn't exist. The Kona EV, the Niro EV, and the Soul EV do exist. Hyundai is ahead here.

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