In a bold and controversial statement, Elon Musk has issued a public warning about the future of certain electric vehicles (EVs)—and it’s ruffling feathers across the auto industry. During a recent interview on a tech podcast, Musk didn’t mince words: “By 2025, many EVs on the market today will be effectively worthless.”
His reasoning? Rapid advancements in autonomous driving, battery technology, and AI integration are moving faster than many automakers can adapt. According to Musk, EVs that aren’t designed to be fully self-driving or lack upgradable software systems will quickly fall behind. “Cars that can’t learn, update, or connect to smarter systems will be like flip phones in the smartphone era,” he added.
While he didn’t name specific brands, Musk emphasized that legacy manufacturers and budget EVs without advanced AI-driven systems or full autonomy capabilities would struggle to maintain value. In contrast, Tesla vehicles are built on a software-first architecture, allowing over-the-air updates, continuous improvement, and long-term relevance.
The statement has sparked heated responses from other automakers and industry analysts. Some accuse Musk of fear-mongering to boost Tesla’s dominance, while others admit he’s not entirely wrong. “The pace of change is blistering,” said one industry insider. “Consumers buying EVs today need to think five years ahead.”
Musk’s comments serve as both a warning and a challenge: the EV market is evolving beyond basic electrification. Software, autonomy, and integration will define the vehicles of tomorrow.
For buyers, the takeaway is clear—not all EVs are created equal, and in Musk’s view, many of today’s models may become outdated faster than expected.
