Those in the U.S. who are looking to place an order for a new entry-level Tesla Model Y RWD will be upset to hear that the car manufacturer has decided to downgrade the EV’s sound system.
Both the Model 3 and Model Y have been praised for their thumping audio systems found across all variants and consisting of 13 speakers, one subwoofer, and two amplifiers. However, an update was recently made to the Tesla configurator that reveals the Model Y RWD will now ship with just 7 speakers, a single amplifier, and no subwoofer.
As we have come to expect from Tesla, the change has been made without an official explanation and consumers will simply have to accept the change as there is no option to upgrade to the more premium system, as is common across much of the industry.
Read: Tesla Lowers Range Estimates After Owner Complaints And EPA Update
The most obvious explanation for the change is that Tesla simply wants to cut costs. Interestingly, it has not reduced the starting price of the Model 3 RWD in line with the downgrade to the sound system but there’s a chance it could be readying a price change. As it stands, the Model Y RWD starts at $43,990.
Tesla likely hopes that by downgrading the sound system of the base Model Y, some customers may be compelled to opt for one of the more expensive dual-motor, all-wheel drive versions as both the Model Y Long Range and Model Y Performance retain the 13-speaker sound system. Prices for the Model Y Long Range start at $48,990 while the Model Y Performance is available from $52,490. All three versions of the Model Y are available with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, as long as buyers do not exceed the income thresholds of $150,000 for singles, $225,000 for heads of households, and $300,000 for married couples.
