EV giant Tesla Inc TSLA introduced a Model Y rear-wheel drive (RWD) in the United States in place of its previous all-wheel drive (AWD) version on Monday and CEO Elon Musk has more to say on its performance.
What Happened: “More affordable version (RWD) version of Model Y is now available,” Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.
The new vehicle is priced lower than the all-wheel drive version it has replaced by $3,750. The starting price of the vehicle is $43,990, making it the cheapest Model Y trim available.
Talking about performance, Musk said the rear-wheel drive vehicle performs well on snow and ice with all-season or winter tires. While all-wheel drive is nice to have, it is not required for winter driving, he added.
Musk was probably seeking to alleviate the concerns of potential buyers wondering about the feasibility of the vehicle during winter. It is already fall in the U.S. and winter is coming.
Why It Matters: The new RWD vehicle has an EPA estimated range of 250 miles and can go from 6-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. Like the other versions of Model Y, it is also eligible for an EV tax credit of $7,500.
Tesla dropped the Model Y AWD from its website in mid-September. The company did not offer an explanation for the decision.
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