Tesla Model Q: When Will It Be Released and What Will It Cost?
Written by
John Csiszar
Edited by
Levi Leidy
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Ever since its inception, Tesla has had a certain aura around it. As the first successful mass-market electric vehicle maker, Tesla has grabbed its rightful share of headlines. However, thanks in large part to its mercurial CEO, Elon Musk, Tesla is often the subject of the rumor mill. The latest “news” is that a new, smaller Tesla that will be the most affordable in its class will be released in the near future. However, as of Dec. 13, nothing has yet been officially confirmed by Tesla. But this hasn’t prevented the internet from buzzing with supposed specs and pricing of the rumored Tesla Model Q.
Here’s a look at all of the available information.
What Is the Tesla Model Q?
The Tesla Model Q is rumored to be the next car released by the world’s leading EV maker. The car is generating excitement because it is said to carry a price tag below $30,000, which would make it by far the most affordable car in Tesla’s lineup. That price point would also compare very favorably with its main competitors, even if it doesn’t qualify for any EV subsidies.
For example, the most likely competitors for the Model Q would be the Chevy Equinox EV, the Kira Niro EV, the Hyundai Kona Electric, the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Ford Mustang Mach-E. Those cars range in price from about $28,000 to $42,995, respectively, after EV credits.
As of Dec. 14, however, everything about the Model Q is simply a rumor, as the company itself has not issued any information about it. However, the latest rumors might have a bit more weight behind them than random internet stories as they have been confirmed by Deutsche Bank, one of the most respected financial institutions in the world, who reportedly spoke with Tesla’s director of investor relations.
What Are the Rumored Specs?
As nothing official has been confirmed yet, exact specs of the potential new car are unknown. However, Car & Driver and other outlets have compiled “educated guesses” based on the information in the Deutsche Bank report and other comments from Tesla and its executives over recent months.
The new car is seen as coming in at a price below $30,000, but that’s including a potential $7,500 EV rebate from the federal government. If that rebate doesn’t apply or is perhaps eliminated by the incoming presidential administration, the car should retail for around $37,500.
Rumors have the car coming in at 15% smaller than the Tesla Model 3 and 30% lighter. The Model Q, even though it would be an entry-level model for Tesla, is supposed to come with fully autonomous driving and be available for sale in mid-2025.
Rather than being built on a new frame, the new car is rumored to be based on an existing Tesla chassis, such as the Model 3. It is expected to come with two battery configurations:
- A rear-wheel drive, 53 kWh LFP battery with a range of up to 310 miles, or
- An all-wheel drive, 75 kWh LFP battery that’s slightly less efficient than the rear-wheel drive version
Will the Rumors Prove True?
Although supposedly coming from a reliable source — Deutsche Bank — there are some in the auto industry who wonder if the Tesla Model Q rumors are really accurate. According to Kelley Blue Book, for example, Tesla has always offered the press years of lead time before introducing past models, but it has kept mum about a possible Model Q. There’s also a lack of leaked photos of the Model Q, again suggesting that there may be nothing to leak. In fact, there’s been no indication at all that Tesla calls any future car the “Model Q” — it’s just the designation used by Deutsche Bank in its report.
However, one plausible explanation of the lack of real information about the new car could be that the so-called “Model Q” might simply be a more affordable reworking of an existing model, like the Model 3, perhaps with one or both of the lithium-iron-phosphate batteries noted above.
Although it’s not clear on what may or may happen with Tesla’s auto lineup in 2025, it appears that the rumor mill is working overtime and that some type of new release will make a splash. If Deutsche Bank is correct, it will be Tesla’s most affordable vehicle yet.
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