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As the main target turns to Robotaxi, Tesla’s inexpensive electrical automobile undertaking “Redwood” could also be shelved.
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The Redwood was speculated to be a compact crossover that may make the most of new manufacturing applied sciences and will probably function a platform for Tesla’s long-rumored Robotaxi program.
Tesla’s future is unclear, with mass layoffs, remembers, manufacturing delays and basic instability seen in current months. After years of hypothesis, and a tease from CEO Elon Musk at Battery Day 2020, Tesla initially confirmed it was growing a extra inexpensive next-generation electrical automobile in 2024. Following Reuters reporting in early 2024, Musk spoke of the undertaking being known as Redwood, which was launched throughout Tesla’s 2023 fourth-quarter earnings name on January 24, 2024.
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“Our present timeline says we’re going to begin manufacturing by the top of 2025, a while within the second half of the yr,” Musk mentioned. He then hedged on the timeline, including, “We — I imply, I am actually not going to say – say these items – they need to be taken with a grain of salt, as a result of I am typically optimistic, however, you realize, I do not need to shock you, however I am typically optimistic about time. Reuters lately printed a report. Musk rapidly disputed a report that Tesla was shelving the Mannequin 2 to deal with robotaxi growth, though we have been scheduled to be taught extra about Robotaxi on the August 8 launch occasion. , however now the convention has been postponed till no less than October this yr.
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Through the firm’s most up-to-date earnings name, shareholders and the media bought their first actual replace and acknowledged that plans had modified. When discussing first-quarter 2024 earnings, Musk mentioned new, extra inexpensive Tesla fashions would enter manufacturing “in early 2025, and even the top of this yr.” Though Tesla has additionally mentioned that these new vehicles will likely be constructed utilizing the corporate’s present manufacturing platforms and manufacturing services, that is removed from the revolution promised by the rumored Mannequin 2. will likely be pushed additional.
As we look ahead to Redwood’s eventual arrival, here is the whole lot we all know concerning the undertaking, together with a short take a look at its historical past.
A quick historical past lesson on Tesla and Musk
general plan
In 2006, Musk laid out plans for the way Tesla might someday construct a mass-market and inexpensive electrical automobile aimed toward shifting customers away from fossil fuel-powered automobiles to the brand new electrical normal. He mentioned the corporate will obtain this purpose by beginning with luxurious electrical automobiles such because the Tesla Roadster after which regularly transferring to extra inexpensive fashions.
“Tesla’s technique is to get into the excessive finish of the market, the place prospects are prepared to pay a premium, after which push the market down as rapidly as doable to extend gross sales and decrease costs for every subsequent mannequin,” Musk wrote on the time.
In 2017, Tesla launched the Mannequin 3. Though the corporate didn’t promote the Mannequin 3 at a low worth as hoped, it was truly a extra inexpensive electrical sedan aimed on the mass market.
In 2008, Tesla launched the Tesla Roadster, a high-performance sports activities automobile and the corporate’s first mannequin. Following the Roadster, the corporate launched the Mannequin S in 2012. The Tesla Mannequin X was launched in 2015, including an SUV to Tesla’s product line for the primary time.
In 2017, Tesla launched the Mannequin 3. Though the corporate didn’t promote the Mannequin 3 at a low worth, it was truly a extra inexpensive electrical sedan aimed on the mass market. Actually, the Mannequin 3 competes with the likes of the BMW 3 Sequence within the lower-end luxurious section. In 2020, Tesla launched Mannequin Y, a compact crossover SUV that turned the world’s best-selling automobile in 2023. The Tesla Cybertruck deviates barely from the corporate’s unique route and can lastly start making its technique to customers in December 2023.
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After a protracted journey, Tesla seems to be near realizing Musk’s general plan. Our purpose has at all times been to supply an electrical automobile that is priced at $25,000 and accessible to the typical client. Other than the goal worth, not a lot has been identified concerning the next-generation automobile, codenamed “Redwood,” for years. Here is what we all know.
Tesla
Undertaking Redwood, consumer-friendly electrical automobiles
Altering ambitions
Reuters reported earlier that the Redwood was initially deliberate to be a compact crossover earlier than they reported canceling the undertaking. Throughout the identical earnings name talked about above, Musk defined that Tesla will leverage new applied sciences in its manufacturing course of in Redwood, with the automaker first planning to supply the automobile at its Gigafactory in Austin, Texas.
“There’s quite a lot of — quite a lot of new expertise right here, like quite a lot of new, revolutionary manufacturing expertise… I imagine that when it is operational, it’ll be far superior to some other manufacturing expertise that is on the market anyplace on the planet, and that is Subsequent degree,” he mentioned.
As manufacturing ramps up, Tesla will add manufacturing traces at different factories, corresponding to its manufacturing facility in Mexico. Based on reviews, Tesla expects to supply 10,000 automobiles per week. One in all Tesla’s long-term targets is to create a fleet of robotaxis, below the idea that the corporate will ultimately obtain true full self-driving. The shape components and way forward for each tasks are much less clear proper now, though it is thought the $25,000 automobile will ultimately function a platform for the undertaking.
“I imagine that when it turns into operational, it should attain new ranges far forward of some other manufacturing expertise at present obtainable anyplace on the planet,” Elon Musk mentioned.
The subsequent few years are going to be an thrilling time for electrical automobiles because the competitors for mass-market EVs is basically heating up as extra producers get on board. Time will inform whether or not Tesla’s Redwood will truly start manufacturing in 2025, or in no way. On the identical time, the corporate faces new competitors from corporations corresponding to China’s BYD.
