In a surprising twist, Elon Musk is backing away from Tesla’s long-hinted $25.000 Tesla and instead betting big on a fully autonomous future. During Tesla’s Q3 earnings call, Musk called the idea of a budget-friendly EV “pointless.” Instead, he emphasized that the company’s focus is on building driverless robotaxis, not affordable cars for private owners.
Tesla’s new Cybercab, a futuristic two-seater robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals, reflects Musk’s ambitious plans. Set to debut before 2027 with a price tag under $30.000, the Cybercab is part of Tesla’s vision for a world where car ownership shifts to shared, autonomous EVs. Musk’s message is clear: it’s autonomy, not affordability alone, that he sees reshaping the future of transportation.
From $25.000 Tesla to Robotaxis
Back in 2020, Musk introduced the idea of a $25.000 Tesla on Battery Day, promising to deliver an affordable, entry-level EV for individual ownership. The plan was tied to advancements in battery technology, with lithium iron phosphate batteries promising cost savings. But as the years went by, Tesla has increasingly leaned into autonomous technology, placing less importance on budget-friendly EVs and more on driverless vehicles for ridesharing.
Responding to an investor question during the call, Musk doubled down, saying, “having a regular $25.000 model is pointless. It would be silly.” He went on to explain that Tesla is “very clear that the future is autonomous.”
What’s Next?
Musk has not abandoned affordability altogether, though. He noted that Tesla plans to release new, more affordable models by 2025. The goal is to keep driving down the cost of transportation, but through shared robotaxis instead of individually owned cars. The Cybercab and Robovan concepts, both autonomous, are to be accessible, efficient, and change the way people think about car ownership.
As Tesla leads the charge toward a driverless future, Musk’s stance reveals a major shift: Tesla isn’t just making affordable EVs—it’s aiming to make them so advanced that we might not need to own them at all.
