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One of Tesla\u2019s biggest downsides has always been the upfront cost of its electric vehicles versus gas models. The cheapest car it currently sells is $42,490 before subsidies, and the average <\/a> starting price of its 2024 models is just over $63,000.<\/p>\n Tesla wrote in its <\/a> that it\u2019s making \u201cpreparations\u201d to offer new vehicles with \u201cmore affordable models.\u201d The EV maker\u2019s cost of goods sold per vehicle also came down to \u201cits lowest level ever\u201d at $35,1000.<\/p>\n \u201cPlans for new vehicles, including more affordable models, remain on track for start of production in the first half of 2025,\u201d the report reads. \u201cThese vehicles will utilize aspects of the next generation platform as well as aspects of our current platforms and will be able to be produced on the same manufacturing lines as our current vehicle line-up.\u201d<\/p>\n Tesla also says it plans to \u201cbegin launching\u201d its cheaper EV models \u201cin the first half of 2025.\u201d That wording is still fairly loose, so there\u2019s no guarantee that a new model will ship the same year.<\/p>\n The other surprise in Tesla\u2019s report came from the numbers. It turns out that despite setbacks like the <\/a> and a federal investigation into its <\/a>, Tesla had a fairly robust third quarter. The carmaker\u2019s net income rose by 8 percent to $2.51 billion and sales rose by 2 percent year-over-year. The news also ends its four-quarter streak of <\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n