Tesla has quietly reintroduced a rear-wheel-drive version of its popular Model Y car in the U.S., offering it at a reduced price compared to its previous all-wheel-drive model. According to the company’s website, the new version of Tesla’s best-selling electric vehicle now starts at $43,990, making it more affordable for customers. This relaunch follows the discontinuation of the all-wheel-drive Model Y last month, which was priced $3,750 higher. Although the rear-wheel-drive version was previously discontinued in the U.S. in 2021, it has still been available in Europe and China.
Moreover, Tesla has recently made updates to its Model Y in China. While the update includes a new wheel design, the starting price for the Chinese market remains unchanged at around $36,000.
Interestingly, Tesla’s reemergence of the Model Y in the U.S. coincided with disappointing third-quarter delivery results announced on Monday. The company fell short of expectations, delivering 435,059 cars compared to the consensus estimate of 455,000 by analysts. Earlier predictions had even placed estimates as high as 473,000 vehicles.
Following this news, Tesla’s stock took a hit in premarket trading but managed to recover slightly, closing the trading session up 0.5%. However, it opened Tuesday’s session with a modest 0.5% decline.
