*By Carlo Versano*
Tesla CEO Elon Musk [tweeted](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1053060766771761152) Thursday night that a long-awaited cheaper version of the Model 3 is now on sale.
According to the re-launched Model 3 [website](https://3.tesla.com/model3/design?#battery), the sticker for the new variant ー which has a "mid-range" battery that can go 260 miles between charges ー will be $45,000. But Musk said the cost is closer to $35,000 "after federal & state tax rebates in California."
He added: "But true cost of ownership is closer to $31k after gas savings."
The surprise announcement came as Musk seeks to right the ship at Tesla after a string of controversies and high-level departures. Most recently, Tesla's manufacturing VP stepped down, following resignations from its HR, supply chain, and accounting chiefs, among others . Musk has also agreed to relieve himself of his chairman role in a settlement with the SEC over accusations he manipulated the company's stock price with his tweets about taking it private over the summer.
But the company has been firing on all cylinders in terms of production, having built 53,000 Model 3s in its last reported quarter. Those vehicles were priced higher and came with a longer-range battery.
Sheryl Sandberg is stepping down as Chief Operating Officer of Facebook's parent company Meta. After 14 years at a company she helped transform from a little-known social media website into one of the most powerful tech giants in the world, Sandberg announced she's leaving to spend more time with her family and focus on her philanthropic work. Evan Nierman, CEO of Red Banyan Crisis PR and author of Crisis Averted, joined Cheddar to discuss Sandberg's legacy at Facebook, her impact on women in the workplace, and what we can expect to see from her in the future.
Scammers are cashing in on the crypto craze. According to a new report from the FTD, fraudsters have stolen more than $1 billion in crypto from 46,000 people since 2021. That's $1 out of every $4 reported lost to scammers paid in cryptocurrency, more than any other payment method. Chris Pierson, the founder and CEO of BlackCloak, gives tips on how to protect yourself from scammers.
U.S. stocks closed Friday's session near session to cap off the week in the red. The disappointing end to the day and week follows a lukewarm May jobs report from the Labor Department and comes as investors continue to eye future rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. Callie Cox, U.S. Investment Analyst for eToro, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Akbar Hamid, co-founder of People of Crypto Lab, joins Cheddar News to discuss how the company is bridging culture and crypto with new metaverse hub, 'Valley of Belonging.'
You probably have your summer music playlist ready to to go, but you're probably not aware how an in-store shopping soundtrack may impact your experience. Spotify Advertising took a look at how audio affects small business shopping. Rochelle Sanchirico, Global Director of Scaled Business and Marketing at Spotify Advertising, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
