Elon Musk dubs regular £23k model “pointless” – so what’s happening to the compact EV?
October 28, 2024 by Jamie Edkins
Car changing is a big deal
The future of the Tesla Compact EV has been thrown into doubt during company’s quarterly earnings call, with Elon Musk calling the sub-£23,000 “pointless” as the brand moves towards full autonomy.
- Tesla Compact EV possibly scrapped
- Musk dubs the MG4 alternative “pointless”
- Fully-autonomous Cybercab could take its place
- “More affordable” models are still coming next year…
- …But these are likely to be updates to existing cars
The recent reveal of the fully-autonomous Tesla Cybercab may have left you wondering when the regular compact EV Elon Musk has been promising would finally show up. Well during Tesla’s Q3 earnings call, we got our answer.
Musk dubbed a regular £23,000 model “pointless” and “completely at odds with what we believe” as Tesla moves towards fully autonomous vehicles. He has still promised to deliver new, more affordable models in the first half of 2025, however it’s unclear what these will be.
New Tesla Compact EV: has it been scrapped?
A new, more affordable compact electric car has been in the pipeline from Tesla for years now, and the future of the model has been thrown into doubt a few times.
Earlier this year, Reuters reported that Tesla would scrap the new compact EV in favour of the fully-autonomous Robotaxi, citing an anonymous Tesla insider. Elon Musk quickly took to social media to quash these rumours, stating in a post on X that “Reuters is lying” He didn’t reference any specific inaccuracies.
Fast forward a few months and we had the reveal of the new Tesla Cybercab, a futuristic-looking fully-autonomous two-seater with no steering wheel or pedals. Well it seems Musk has suddenly switched priorities and he doesn’t see a need in making a small electric car which you can drive yourself.
During Tesla’s Q3 earnings call, an investor asked for an update on the new Tesla Compact EV, and Musk answered: “So, I think we’ve made very clear that we’re- the future is autonomous.
“I think having a regular 25K model is pointless. It would be silly. Like it would be completely at odds with what we believe.
“In an autonomous world, what matters is lowest cost per mile of efficiency of that vehicle. And that’s what we’ve done with the robotaxi.”
The Q3 shareholder presentation does promise “plans for new vehicles, including more affordable models” in the first half of 2025 based on a next-generation platform, so Musk is sending pretty mixed signals at the moment. The facelifted Model Y is due in 2025, and there could also be more tweaks to the Model 3 in the pipeline as well.
It’s also worth noting that you will be able to buy a Cybercab in 2026, according to Musk at least, and it’s set to start from less than £23,000. So technically Tesla is still delivering an affordable small vehicle, it’s just not the one you may have been expecting.
CAN Phantom vs Autowatch Ghost Immobiliser
CAN Phantom and the Autowatch Ghost Immobiliser are both aftermarket security products. They work in a similar way, preventing a car from starting unless a specific sequence of buttons is pressed. There are some differences to be aware of.
· Autowatch Ghost Immobiliser has a fob option.
· The CAN Phantom has a ‘Valet and Maintenance’ mode, controlled through a web app.
· Autowatch Ghost comes with an emergency code override on a scratch card.
· CAN Phantom is UK designed and manufactured.
· Autowatch Ghost is a South African system.
How to check if my car has a ghost immobiliser
The easiest way to check is to ask the person selling you the car. There’s no obvious sign that a ghost immobiliser is fitted, as the system is intended to be stealthy so a thief doesn’t look for a way to overcome the system.
These security devices can’t be detected by radio scanners or by plugging into the car’s on-board diagnostics, so they are difficult to detect.
In practice, it’s quite likely that somebody selling a car with a ghost immobiliser fitted will want to transfer the system to their new car. If they don’t plan to move it to their next car, they will want you to know about it as it’s a selling point making the car more desirable.
Does a ghost immobiliser reduce insurance?
A ghost immobiliser may reduce your insurance. While neither the Autowatch Ghost or the CAN Phantom have been approved by Thatcham, the motor insurance industry’s research arm, they are recognised by the Tracking and Aftermarket Security System Association (TASSA).
It’s certainly worth checking with your insurer if fitting a ghost immobiliser will reduce your premium.
Ghost immobiliser FAQs
● Is ghost immobiliser insurance approved?
The motor insurance industry research arm does not officially approve this style of immobiliser, but that doesn’t mean they are not effective.
● Is it worth fitting a ghost immobiliser?
Yes, especially if you have a desirable car and live in an area with a lot of car thefts. It’s an extra layer of security that can be effective against modern tech-savvy thieves.
● Can a ghost immobiliser be bypassed?
Never say never, but it’s very hard to do. The various ghost immobilisers on the market are designed to stay well hidden, so a thief doesn’t know that there’s an extra level of security to be bypassed.
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