Tesla Model 2 release date and price: Tesla hasn't announced it, and the Model 3 Standard is its cheapest car

People have searched for a Tesla Model 2 for years, and Tesla has never announced one. What Tesla has done is launch cheaper versions of its existing cars and a robotaxi. Here’s what’s official.

Is there a Tesla Model 2?

No. Tesla hasn’t announced a car called Model 2, so there’s no release date, no price and no way to order one. The name comes from fans, as a step below the Model 3.

As of Oct. 16, 2026, Tesla’s newest vehicle on the road is the Cybercab robotaxi, which isn’t for sale.

The cheapest Teslas you can buy

Tesla’s answer to a cheaper car so far has been stripped-down versions of its best sellers. In October 2025, it launched the Model 3 Standard and Model Y Standard, which it calls its most affordable vehicles, each with more than 300 miles of range and starting at $36,990 and $39,990. Tesla said they came after the US EV tax credit expired, and that they still include a 15.4-inch touchscreen, heated front seats and active safety features.

Tesla’s sales are still built on those two cars. Of the more than 486,000 vehicles it delivered in the third quarter of 2026, 478,237 were Model 3s and Model Ys.

What Tesla promised about affordable models

The idea of a cheaper Tesla goes back years. In its update on April 23, 2024, Tesla said it had changed its lineup to speed up the launch of new models, including more affordable models, ahead of the second half of 2025. It said they’d use parts of its next-generation platform and of its current cars, and be built on the same production lines as today’s models.

That plan led to the Standard versions in 2025. Tesla hasn’t announced a separate, smaller car since.

Where the Cybercab fits

The cheapest new Tesla could end up being one without a steering wheel. The Cybercab, a two-seat robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals, began production at Gigafactory Texas in the second quarter of 2026 and has been carrying riders in Austin since Sept. 3, 2026. On Feb. 17, 2026, Elon Musk said on X that Tesla would sell a Cybercab to a customer for $30,000 or less before 2027. Tesla hasn’t opened orders or published a price, and our Cybercab page tracks that.

Rumors, and what to watch next

Reports about a $25,000 Tesla have come and gone since at least 2023, and Tesla hasn’t confirmed plans for one. Claims about a Model 2 design or a 2027 launch haven’t been confirmed either.

The next official word could come soon. Tesla reports third-quarter results on Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. ET. For Tesla’s other big launch this year, see our page on the new Roadster.

This page is updated as soon as Tesla announces a cheaper new model, a price or a release date.