[Rumor Risk Rating]
✅ True
Multiple credible sources confirm that some senior Tesla executives were indeed alarmed last year when Elon Musk publicly denied a Reuters report stating that Tesla had canceled its planned $25,000 electric vehicle—a project widely anticipated by investors as a key driver for future sales growth[1][3][5]. According to people familiar with the matter and internal documents cited by Reuters, executives were aware that Musk had already decided to end the project, frequently referred to as the ‘Model 2,’ and that Tesla had shifted its focus toward developing self-driving robotaxis[1][5].
Elon Musk’s post on X (formerly Twitter) directly responded to the Reuters article by stating, “Reuters is lying,” an action that temporarily halted a sharp decline in Tesla’s stock, though shares still closed down 3.6% that day[1][2][5]. Internally, however, sources and company records indicate that the project had been communicated as canceled to staff weeks prior to Musk’s denial, heightening confusion and concern among Tesla’s leadership[1][5]. This internal-external disconnect underscores the accuracy of the claim.