The Tesla Model 3 is currently the most affordable vehicle in the company’s lineup, but that could change in the future after CEO Elon Musk admitted that the company could make a $25,000 electric car at some point in the near future. Musk didn’t elaborate on the details of the proposed vehicle, but he did say that it could be a compact model that would become a cheaper alternative to the BMW 1 Series or the Mercedes GLA-Class.

This is not the first time that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has broached the idea of developing an entry-level model that would sit below the Model 3. Doing so would effectively give the automaker a pair of affordable, mass-market, long-range electric cars in its lineup. Raise your hands if you thought Tesla would go down market with its new models.

Musk himself thinks that it’s possible to do it, even though it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. “To get ultimately to something like a $25,000 car, that’s something we could do, but that’s probably three years away if we work really hard,” he said.

That’s the rub when it comes to this proposed compact electric car. It’s something that Tesla could do if it really wants to, but it’s not going to take priority over what the company already has on the table. That would include the Model Y, the Tesla Pickup, Tesla Semi, and even the next-generation Roadster, all of which have been promised by the company to arrive over the next few years.

But once those models are out, there’s no telling Tesla’s next move. A compact electric car that sells for just $25,000 would be an intriguing new model to develop because it would prove a willingness on Tesla’s part to detach itself from being labeled a “premium automaker.” Developing a cheaper electric car could also be a boon for Tesla’s business. Not only does it become more affordable, but it would also be able to reach more people, a lot of whom could be priced out of buying any one of Tesla’s current models, including the Model 3.

The biggest takeaway here, though, is the ramifications of having a long-range, $25,000 electric car on the market. If Tesla manages to develop such a model, it would be a sign that the company has found a way to improve the cost of developing EVs without ruining its bottom line. That could be a game-changing developing in the segment.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Tesla Model 3.

Read our full review on the 2017 Tesla Model X.

Read our full review on the 2017 Tesla Model S.

Read more Tesla news.