The Cost of Tesla's Generation 3 Vehicle

Tesla Generation 3 Vehicle Cost

We have a breakdown of the potential cost of Tesla's generation 3 Robotaxi vehicle. let's go over the numbers. They assume a $5B CAPEX/Factory for 1 million units depreciated over 10 years to $0. There is no steering wheel or pedals. Total cost is $17,600 or roughly half the Model 3 and Model Y cost.

* D&A expense/unit: $500
* Structural 4680 battery pack @ 60 kWh: $4,200
* Cameras: $400
* Hardware 4 Computer: $500
* Casted Front: $250
* Casted Rear: $250
* Tires/Rims: $800
* Suspension: $1,000
* Wiring Harness: $500
* Seats: $1,000
* Screen/Infotainment/Speakers: $800
* Drive Unit: $2,000
* Windows/Glass: $1,000
* Heat Pump: $400
* Brakes: $500
* Interior Misc. Items: $1,000
* Labor: $500
* Paint: $500
* Airbags/Seatbelts: $1,500

Tota: $17,600

This is about half the cost of Tesla's generation 2 platform. There are things that could be added to this list, such as insurance, assembly, testing, logistic, call center, royalties, and more.

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What Will the Final Cost Be?

At $17,600, Tesla could sell at the following prices to get 5% or more gross profit:

* $18,480: 5%
* $19,360: 10%
* $20,240: 15%
* $21,120: 20%
* $22,000: 25%
* $22,880: 30%
* $23,760: 35%
* $24,640: 40%

Even at a price around $25,000, which is reasonable, that is a 40% profit. Tesla could also sell at a very lost price of around $20,000 and still make 15% profit and that does not include FSD - which is what this vehicle will be, a Robotaxi.

The compact vehicle won't be much more than this either and with improvements in battery technology over time, including better LFP batteries, we should see some inexpensive vehicles coming in the future. Cars may return to their $15,000 to $20,000 prices for an affordable sedan, but will be an EV instead.

What do you think of the cost breakdown of the generation 3 vehicle? Will it end up costing this much?

In Related News: Tesla Reaches Important 1 Million Milestone

Potential COGS for Gen 3 platform - Robotaxi Assumes 5B CAPEX/Factory for 1M units depreciated over 10 years to 0$ No steering wheel No pedals $17,600 COGS or roughly “half of a 3/Y”Reply if you think anything is missing pic.twitter.com/MA8EyTp0dQ— TSLATALK (@tslatalk) January 5, 2023

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Jeremy Johnson is a Tesla investor and supporter. He first invested in Tesla in 2017 after years of following Elon Musk and admiring his work ethic and intelligence. Since then, he's become a Tesla bull, covering anything about Tesla he can find, while also dabbling in other electric vehicle companies. Jeremy covers Tesla developments at Torque News. You can follow him on Twitter or LinkedIn to stay in touch and follow his Tesla news coverage on Torque News.

Image Credit, Tesla, Screenshot