Tesla drops its cheapest EV in US

Tesla has cancelled its cheapest EV in the US – the Model 3 Standard Range rear-wheel-drive RWD).

That’s according to Electrek, which says Tesla updated its online Model 3 configurator and that while Electrek focused on delivery numbers it hadn’t realised the Model 3 Standard Range RWD was absent from Tesla;s online configurator.

“At (US)$39,000, it was the cheapest Tesla to buy. Now, the most affordable is (US)$3,500 more expensive: the (US)$42,500 Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel-Drive<’ says Electrek, adding the EV used LFP battery cells from China so may have become a victim of increased US import tariffs.

Responses to Electrek’s post suggest the Model 3 Standard Range RWD remains available in other countries.

Meanwhile, Tesla plans to reveal its robotaxi on October 10.