Tesla launches new version of popular model with surprisingly low cost — here's what it offers
Public interest in electric vehicles continues to rise, and as competition in the market intensifies, Tesla has launched its most inexpensive trim of the new Model Y to date.
According to Teslarati, the new Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive starts at $44,990. "Specs run at 357 miles of range, 125 mph top speed, and a 5.4-second 0-to-60 mph acceleration rate," the publication wrote.
Not only does the less expensive model have the famous high speeds and quick acceleration of a typical Tesla, but the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive configuration is also eligible for full federal tax credits, which can offer $7,500 off the already-low $44,990 price tag thanks to the EV incentives built into the Inflation Reduction Act.
Driving an electric vehicle has never been more appealing. As new models and trims continue to hit the market, EVs, and Teslas in particular, are no longer an unfeasible luxury. Now, the average person can afford to make their next car a renewable energy-powered EV.
EVs are an increasingly easy way to reduce reliance on gas and other dirty fuels that clog the air and challenge human and planetary health. While IRA tax credits make sustainable purchases like EVs more attainable, the Trump administration has mentioned eventually cutting the incentives. Though this would take an act of Congress, it is clear: The time to go electric is now.
IRA credits are also allotted to solar energy purchases, another great implementation for homes and even electric vehicles. Fueling EVs with home solar panels can be another money-saving tactic, as it allows you to avoid using public charging stations or relying on the grid. Companies like EnergySage offer free resources for comparing solar quotes and finding the right option for you.
As Tesla has seen its sales slacking in 2025, in part due to CEO Elon Musk's involvement in U.S. politics, this budget-friendly launch of the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Model Y shows a commitment to accelerating EV usage without compromising on features or usability.
If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you?
Cost
Battery range
Power and speed
The way it looks
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
6 minutes ago
- Business Upturn
Bitcoin rebounds above $104,700 after initial dip on Trump-Musk fallout
Bitcoin (BTC) staged a smart recovery on Friday, climbing back above the $104,700 mark after an early dip sparked by jitters in the market following the reported fallout between former US President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk. As per latest data, Bitcoin was trading at $104,731.41, up 2.18% over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency saw a volatile session, hitting an intraday low of $102,405.29 before bouncing back sharply to test a high of $105,333.00. The market had initially reacted negatively to reports of strained relations between Trump and Musk, which had raised concerns about potential policy shifts or regulatory overhang on digital assets in the US. The development triggered a broad risk-off sentiment across major cryptocurrencies during early trade. However, BTC's resilience was on display as buyers stepped in at lower levels, fueling a strong rebound. The 24-hour trading volume stood robust at 14,435.76 BTC, with $1.5 billion USDT turnover, indicating healthy participation on the bounce. Crypto market analysts noted that despite short-term headlines, underlying bullish momentum in BTC remains intact amid improving institutional interest and optimism around the next leg of mainstream adoption. Traders will be watching closely for further developments on the Trump-Musk front, along with upcoming macroeconomic cues, which could influence BTC's near-term trajectory. Note: $BTC price at the time of writing this article. News desk at
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
SmartRent Enhances Its Platform with AI Intelligence and Energy-Saving Features
SmartRent, Inc. (NYSE:SMRT), a top provider of smart community and operations solutions for the rental housing sector, has announced a major upgrade to its platform by adding an AI-powered intelligence layer and improved energy management tools. These enhancements are designed to help operators make better decisions that reduce utility waste, lower costs, and support environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. A builder wearing a hard hat admiring a newly constructed smart home. The latest innovation, SMRT IQ, uses real-time data from connected devices to give teams comprehensive insights across their entire property portfolio, enabling quicker and smarter operational decisions. This update represents a significant shift for SmartRent, Inc. (NYSE:SMRT), moving beyond simple automation to delivering intelligent solutions that simplify data access and interpretation, allowing operators to take immediate action. Isaiah DeRose-Wilson, Chief Technology Officer at SmartRent, Inc. (NYSE:SMRT), made the following comment: "SMRT IQ marks a significant milestone in SmartRent's evolution. It delivers constant, real-time IoT-device level data and visibility into all aspects of property performance, enabling the decision-making process with insights that just weren't possible before. By combining that data with conversational AI, we're helping teams make smarter decisions faster and act with confidence at scale. It's further connecting teams to their communities, saving them time and improving business agility across the board." Unlike others that offer partial solutions, SmartRent, Inc. (NYSE:SMRT) provides a complete property operations platform tailored for rental housing. It integrates connected hardware, digital workflows, and built-in intelligence to automate tasks for owners, operators, and site teams, helping reduce operating costs while enhancing the resident experience within one unified system. While we acknowledge the potential of SMRT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure. None. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tesla's Optimus robot VP is leaving the company
The head of Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot program, Milan Kovac, is leaving the company. Kovac said Friday in a post on X that he "had to make the most difficult decision" of his life to leave. "I've been far away from home for too long, and will need to spend more time with family abroad," he wrote. Kovac said that was "the only reason" and that his support for Musk and Tesla is "ironclad." Kovac's departure was first reported Friday by Bloomberg News. The departure comes as Tesla CEO Elon Musk has claimed the company will have "thousands" of Optimus robots operating in its factories by the end of this year. "And we expect to scale Optimus up faster than any product, I think, in history, to get to millions of units per year as soon as possible," Musk said last month. Kovac worked at Tesla for nearly 10 years, with much of that time coming as a top engineer on the Autopilot team. He was tapped to help lead development of Optimus in 2022 and became a vice president overseeing the program in late 2024. "I'm driving the Optimus program (Tesla's humanoid robot) & all its engineering teams," Kovac previously wrote on his LinkedIn profile. "Separately, I'm also driving the engineering teams responsible for all the software foundations & infrastructure common between Optimus and Autopilot." Ashok Elluswamy, the vice president of Tesla's AI software division, will take over the Optimus project, according to Bloomberg. This story has been updated with information from Kovac's X post about his departure.
