When Tesla unveiled its Standard versions of the Model 3 and Model Y this week, reactions were mixed. Many liked the addition of two new models, but they were also concerned about the price.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a giant miss,\u201d one person said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith all due respect, no way is this what y\u2019all have been hyping for 6 quarters\u2026\u201d another one claimed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo\u2026where are the affordable models?\u201d another reply read.<\/p>\n
Tesla launches two new affordable models with \u2018Standard\u2019 Model 3, Y offerings<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n There\u2019s no arguing it: $36,990 and $39,990 for the Model 3 Standard and Model Y Standard were not what consumers had in mind.<\/p>\n But, despite Tesla getting its new offerings to a price that is not necessarily\u00a0as low as many expected, the two cars still have a chance to assist with quarterly deliveries<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n First-time Tesla buyers will lean toward Standard models<\/p>\n Tesla owners have become accustomed to expecting all the bells and whistles in their cars. Heated seats, ventilated seats, acoustic glass, vegan leather, industry-leading performance, world-class range, and a glass roof are all expected by current or past owners.<\/p>\n But what about\u00a0new\u00a0owners?<\/p>\n New owners do not have these high expectations, so to many of those who have not sat in a Tesla or driven one before, they are going to be blown away by the minimalistic looks, capabilities, and features of the Standard models<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Premium models will feel like the high-end offerings that other automakers also have for sale, except they\u2019ll only be a few thousand dollars more than Tesla\u2019s base models. With other companies, the price for these higher-end trims is $10,000 or more.<\/p>\n The more affordable Standard models will be there<\/a>, but if buyers want the extra features, they\u2019ll likely be able to justify the extra few thousand dollars.<\/p>\n Tesla\u2019s Standard Models fall under the U.S. Average Transaction Price<\/p>\n Kelley Blue Book releases a new report each month showing the average transaction price (ATP) of all vehicles sold in the U.S. for that month.<\/p>\n The latest report, released on September 10 for the month of August<\/a>, revealed an ATP of $49,077. This was up 0.5% from July\u00a0($48,841) and higher year over year by 2.6%.<\/p>\n Technically, Tesla\u2019s new Standard models fall well under that ATP, meaning they technically do qualify as \u201caffordable.\u201d However, realistically speaking, affordable does not mean \u201cunder the national average.\u201d<\/p>\n It means accessible for low-income families, single-parent households, and other groups. This would likely be under $30,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n D\u00e9j\u00e0 Vu with the Cybertruck Rear-Wheel-Drive<\/p>\n When Tesla offered the Cybertruck RWD, it stripped out many of the best features of the Cybertruck, such as the adjustable air suspension, powered tonneau cover, and interior materials, just to name a few.<\/p>\n