Image Credit: Tesla
Tesla says it has officially begun production of the newly refreshed Model Y at its Shanghai manufacturing plant.
Tesla took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday to announce that it had begun production of the new Model Y at Gigafactory Shanghai, with first deliveries beginning within weeks in China.
The sales of the refreshed Model Y will be closely watched by the industry, following a plunge in Tesla sales numbers around the world in January – a fall some put mainly to buyers holding off for the new model, and others suggesting it is the result of pushback against CEO Elon Musk’s controversial role in the Trump administration
The company’s Chinese website also now lists the revamped Model Y as available for order, with a rear-wheel-drive version starting from RMB 263,500 ($A57,000, converted), and a long-range all-wheel-drive model starting from RMB 303,500 ($A65,800, converted).
Orders have been open since January for the new Model Y on the Australian Tesla site, though the car is pricier than a simple conversion from China’s pricing might have suggested. The rear-wheel-drive variant starts at $69,032 drive away, and $79,452 drive away for the long-range all-wheel-drive variant.
Tesla unveiled the so-called “Juniper” refresh earlier this year, boasting a redesign intended to maximise efficiency, increased performance, a quieter cabin, updated wheel and tire package, and new lighting.
The new Model Y boasts up to 719km for the long-range all-wheel-drive first edition, and 593km for the rear-wheel-drive first edition. Ranges vary depending on all the modifications and options available.
And while the exterior facelift has given the Model Y a bit of an upgrade, with a cut-through light cluster design for both the front and tail, the car still looks like someone overinflated a Model 3.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
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" the car still looks like someone overinflated a Model 3 " - perhaps because they both have very, very good streamlining?
200,000+ orders in China already!
This car is going to make EVs great again.
The Juniper LAUNCH version has been in production for a month or two already. I think what this article is trying to say is that their Chinese factory has moved to making the standard versions, and not before time!
Seriously Joshua, the range you quoted is not WLTP, so why would you quote those numbers?
The price you mentioned is an one-off launch price for the launch model and it won't be the regular price after the launch period. Why would you not mention that?
Oh Josh, not another poorly researched and written article. I see you edited your other article on Chinese NEV sales after I gave some feedback.
Making america great again. One chinese factory at a time.