Elon Musk informed Tesla workers that the previously company's promised $25,000 electric vehicle would be available in 2023.

It wouldn't even have a steering wheel, according to the CEO.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, stated last year at Tesla Battery Day that the company will build a $25,000 electric vehicle.

In the official statement, the CEO stated:

“Tesla will intend to launch $25,000 electric cars that are also entirely self-driving.”

He clearly claimed that this new pricing point results from Tesla's revolutionary battery cell and battery production initiative, which may minimize battery prices to almost half.

The $25,000 Tesla electric vehicle, dubbed the "Model 2," has been compared to a modern electric hatchback that Tesla plans to manufacture and sell worldwide from its Gigafactory Shanghai in China.

Tesla revealed intentions to open a new R&D facility in China last year to develop "a Chinese-style" electric vehicle.

Last summer, Tesla began accepting design proposals for its Chinese-made small electric vehicle. Soon after, it began recruiting for the program.

The manufacturer also revealed an early concept sketch of a tiny, electrified hatchback at the time. It prompted many to believe that it was Tesla's design direction and form factor for the forthcoming electric car.

We previously reported on certain Chinese media rumors claiming that manufacturing of the Model 2 may begin as soon as this week.

However, we cautioned that this is unlikely to occur.

In a company-wide conference previous night, Elon Musk revealed a clearer understanding of the intended timeframe for the introduction of the new affordable Tesla car.

During the conference, executives informed Electrek that Tesla planned to start producing the upcoming $25,000 electric vehicle in 2023, according to sources who were there.

Musk connected the launch of the upcoming Model 2 (not its official name) to Tesla's accomplishing of a deployable complete self-driving system in his remarks, and even urged Tesla employees:

“Are we interested in having this vehicle arrive with a steering wheel and pedals?”

He made it seem as though the next Tesla car would not even have a steering wheel.

Tesla revealed a picture of a car devoid of a steering wheel or pedals in 2019 and stated that the goal was to launch a car like this within two years.

According to the CEO at the meeting, Tesla is banking on complete autonomy for the upcoming $25,000 electric vehicle.

Tesla is attempting to roll out its Complete Self-Driving Beta software to the rest of its fleet in the United States by the close of the month.

Tesla will update the software using data from the fleet and attempt to make it many times quicker and safer than human drivers once it is released in order to get regulatory permission to deploy it as a genuine complete self-driving system.

The progress achieved on this front will determine whether the next Tesla car will have a steering wheel.