I very very strongly doubt that much of what's sold as a "premium package" will disappear in an eventual lower-priced version:
Cloth seats: Maybe.definitely
No center console: Highly unlikely. It's pretty pathetic as it is. Can't make it a whole lot worse (Model S/X owners will disagree).
Tesla already stated that center console was part of PUP.
Premium Audio: I guess they could cheap on speakers a bit further.
Further? Model 3 has better stereo than most $85,000 luxury sedans.
Glass Roof? If Tesla had normal manufacturing capabilities, I'd say yes. They can't get anything screwed together properly, hence their quest for uniformity across "trim levels". Introducing a steel roof may be more expensive/risky for them short term than continuing with the glass.
Maybe.... They will still find some way of distinguishing the difference even if they keep the glass roof. It's possible that they use a cheaper coating on it for example. Without a doubt glass is more expensive than steel so they will eliminate it if they can and if the car doesn't look terrible for the change.
Auto-dimming mirrors: Are non-dimming mirrors still a thing?
Most new cars don't have auto-dimming mirrors on base trim versions. Toyota Camry, much cheaper car than Model 3 but with similar dimensions does not have auto dimming mirrors.
Custom driver profiles: Sure, they could remove that, but it costs nothing and would chase a bunch of buyers away.
Kind of like how turning on autopilot costs them nothing? There has to be differentiation to move customers into PUP and this is an easy one. Other manufacturers do this all the time and so will Tesla.
Fog lamps: yeah, could do some blanks there. Don't know how the market would react to $35k with blanks for fog lights.
They don't have to do blanks, they just fab a new part that doesn't have the fog lights which also plays into differentiation that customers spending more $$ are often after.
OTA Updates: They will surely keep the updates.
Yes, it will have OTA updates for sure via WiFi.
Maps and Traffic: I don't believe they give up the LTE connection and live traffic, the spyware they run is too valuable to give up. They're working on collecting their own traffic data, much like Apple or Google do and they need as large a fleet as possible for that.
They can collect the data and not make it accessible. They already do this with the onboard cameras on cars that don't have EAP activated. LTE for sure won't be given for free, but Tesla can still dump some data back to the mothership over WiFi, which is going to be required for updates. If a customer doesn't want to pay for data then Tesla can give them basic maps.
Streaming: doubt it would be removed. Must have some USPs agains other products, and this would be a good one, as they no longer have this market to themselves.
Removing streaming is trivial and easy for them to do and I wouldn't be surprised if they did it as a way to differentiate trim.
You are discounting that Tesla have already stated some of this is getting yanked out of the base model trim.
Additionally;
1. Accent LED lights.
2. Power fold mirrors.
3. Interior accent lighting.
All gone.
Other things they could eliminate but might not want to;
1. Rear storage compartment under main trunk.
2. Lower end wheels (steel wheels instead of alloys under the aero covers)
3. telescoping power steering column
4. power seats.
5. rear seat heaters.
Tesla can and will cut as much as they can without sacrificing the image of the car as something of a status symbol. Certain things might stay in because Tesla feels it would tarnish the image, but beyond that I expect they will cut as much as they can.
$35,000 BMW 320i is definitely pretty stripped down on features, interior, etc., compared to a $50,000 loaded 330i. Which is as it should be. If buyers want certain things they have to bump up to a higher level car.
