"Tesla, Inc.'s 'Made in America' delayed? Low-cost Model Y may be postponed to next year for production."

Tesla's highly anticipated affordable car model plan has been derailed, and the production of the low-cost version of the Model Y in the United States will be delayed by several months. Media reports on Friday Eastern Time stated that Tesla had originally promised to launch a more affordable electric car in the first half of this year, but the production plan in the United States has been delayed. It is expected that the production time of this low-cost version of the Model Y (internally coded as E41) will be delayed to the third quarter to early next year, significantly later than Tesla's publicly committed schedule. Currently, the price of the long-range all-wheel-drive version of the Model Y in the U.S. market is about $49,000 (excluding the $7,500 tax credit). Previous reports indicated that the upcoming E41 will be smaller than the current Model Y, with production costs expected to be reduced by 20%. Reports state that Tesla aims to produce 250,000 of these cheaper Model Ys in the United States by 2026. It is worth noting that this new car is also planned to eventually be produced in China and Europe. Supply chain risks and new model prospects With Trump imposing a 25% tariff on cars and car parts imported from outside the U.S., automakers are facing the risk of price increases and supply chain disruptions. It is noted that over the past two years, Tesla has increased the proportion of North American parts procurement for many models, which will reduce the extent to which the E41 is affected by tariffs. Aside from tariffs, Tesla is currently facing multiple serious challenges. It is reported that the company announced its 2024 delivery data on January 2nd, showing a historical decline in delivery volume for the first time, and analysts expect sales to continue to decline this year. Various factors have contributed to the decline in sales, including Musk's close collaboration with Trump and support for far-right political figures in Europe damaging the brand's reputation. The aging product line of Tesla and the lack of relatively cheaper models are also another major challenge the company is facing. Tesla is scheduled to announce its quarterly results next Tuesday, with the plans for new models being a major issue of concern for investors. Musk had previously promised to launch a new, cheaper electric car platform, with models expected to be priced as low as $25,000, but later abandoned this plan in favor of developing the Siasun Robot & Automation taxi business. This article is reprinted from Wall Street News, written by Bao Yilong; edited by GMTEeight: Wenwen.