Image: JacklJack via Reddit
Tesla’s best-seller and world’s best-selling car of any fuel type, the Tesla Model Y, is about to get a major refresh in the coming months.
News from China suggests that test production of this upcoming refreshed Model Y began this week at Tesla’s Shanghai factory, where almost one in every two EVs on our road was built last year which has delivered more than 30,000 Teslas to Australia in 2024 alone.
The initial test production run will be small, with about 12 units being produced every day for quality and road testing.
According to the source, the initial production will be on a separate part of the factory where employees and clothes involved will not be allowed to take their mobile phones in case of any leaks of the upcoming car.
Originally, there were rumours of the car being delivered to customers in 2024 but earlier this year an internal memo at Tesla highlighted that there would be no Model Y refresh coming during 2024.
It was further verified by Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk on X in June: “No Model Y “refresh” is coming out this year.”
This method of producing small batches was also seen with the Tesla Model 3 refresh months prior to the official unveiling in September 2023.
In recent months, multiple sightings of the Model Y being tested in the US have been spied, showing key changes to the exterior and giving an inside look.
One of the key differences spotted on the outside was the inclusion of the extended tail light that appears to run parallel above the Tesla badge on the boot lid.
Moving on to the inside, there was also LED ambient lighting present which can be seen on the door panels. There are also ventilation perforations, allowing for heated and ventilated seats in the car.
Both of these are similar to those seen on the refreshed Model 3 sedan, which is available to local buyers today.
Speaking ot the Model 3 refresh, the key improvements over the previous car were significant and are expected to be on the new Model Y as well:
Given what we know, the official release of the highly anticipated Model Y refresh is likely to be in early 2025.
Between this initial production and then, we’re likely to get plenty more spy shots and production updates of the new car in the coming months so stay tuned.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.
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When I wear clothes, or buy devices, that made in China, it's because I support communism and agree with their government on all things, even Tiawan.
Like your phone and 90% of every other consumer item .
Have you considered emigrating? Or explaining to the rest of us the Chinese policy on Tiawan whatever that is.
Lots of so called western countries have been selling their jobs and industry to asia for decades. And now it's time to complain?
What? No Tesla/Musk bashing?
Strip it out - fix those panel gaps, squeaks - add lipstick.....and sell for as long as you can get away with it.
Panel gaps disappeared about 5 years ago. Our model Y is as good as the Merc or Toyota in the Woolies carpark.
Mate it's time you got a new meme.
An updated Model Y holds no interest for me because it is far too big!
I have been waiting for the so called Tesla Model 2 for some time, but because Tesla runs on Elon time which could be now or never, I have decided I may as well buy one of the small Chinese electric cars that are available in Australia now.
An added attraction is I don't have to deal with the antics of Elon Musk who supports Donald Trump being the next leader of the free world!
Dolphin, Ora, MG4, or wait for the T03?
I'm very happy with my dolphin.
I cannot wait to buy one so I can funnel money via Musk into Trump's reelection campaign, even buying votes so Trump can win!
I see no moral dilemma here, because my intelligence is as low as the average thedriven.io reader 👍