With less than a week to go until the end of June, expectations surrounding Tesla's promised affordable electric car are beginning to turn into disappointment. Despite the announcements made by the company and its founder Elon Musk, the long-awaited entry-level model has not been presented nor have any concrete details been disclosed that point to an immediate launch.

The promise was no small feat. During the presentation of its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, Tesla assured that it would have a more economical electric vehicle ready by this month.

The statement sparked the interest of analysts, potential customers and brand enthusiasts, especially in Europe, where the Model 3 - the most affordable so far - remains priced high for the general public.

The Model 3, although it has received interesting updates and maintains a good balance between features and technology, has a starting price of around $40,000 or about 37,000 euros, which leaves it out of reach of many buyers looking for an efficient and economical urban car.

The rumored Model Q: high hopes, little data

For years, there has been talk of a smaller and smaller priced model, nicknamed by the press as "Model 2" or "Model Q", a project that Tesla has never officially confirmed this, but it has been fueled by leaks, speculation, and indirect references in statements from the company itself.

In that context, expectations in June were high. An official announcement of the new affordable car was expected, with a price close to $32,000 (approximately 30,000 euros).

This model, according to rumors, would share architecture with the Model Y, but with smaller dimensions, simpler equipment, and a clearly urban orientation.

Tesla remains silent again

The company, however, has remained silent. The last time this new product was indirectly mentioned was in a statement where Tesla stated: "We have increased production of the renewed Model Y at its Fremont and Texas factories. While also preparing those production lines for the new lower-cost electric vehicles." In addition, Lars Moravy, Tesla's vice president of Vehicle Engineering, hinted that the design would not break with the current aesthetic: "The models that will be released in the coming months will resemble the shape and structure of the cars we currently manufacture. The key is that they will be affordable and that you will be able to buy one." Investors and customers begin to lose patience The lack of real news, however, has begun to generate concern. Not only among consumers who were hoping to access the "affordable Tesla," but also among investors, who see this silence as a worrying sign. The underlying problem is not just the delay. Tesla has been accumulating several unfulfilled or delayed promises. Its history includes the Cybertruck, the Semi, and Full Self Driving technology, products and developments that have faced long delays, changes in plans, or mid-stream redefinitions.

The competition doesn't wait

In this particular case, the context is not the most favorable for postponing launches. Competition in the electric vehicle market is fiercer than ever, with Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and MG offering electric cars for under $25,000 (about €23,000) with sufficient range and a good technological package.

Furthermore, traditional European brands such as Renault, Peugeot, and Volkswagen have already announced their own entry-level electric models, targeting the same audience that Tesla fails to serve.

Is Tesla losing its leadership?

In this sense, some experts warn that the American company could be losing the leadership it held for the last decade.

Sales figures in Europe show a slowdown for Tesla, especially in markets such as Germany, France, and the Nordic countries, where other manufacturers are gaining ground.

Tesla's strategy has always been based on scaling up production and lowering costs. But the idea of ????a truly cheap electric car also implies facing lower margins. In the company's own words, access vehicles are always "critical" because they must be profitable to sustain the business model.