Tesla has confirmed that an updated version of the Model Y, nicknamed “Juniper”, will enter mass production as early as January 2024 at its Shanghai factory, according to local sources relayed by LatePost. After numerous rumors and leaks in recent months, this announcement marks an important step for the brand’s electric crossover.
A well-established strategy
The refreshed Model Y would incorporate several innovations introduced with the restyling of the Model 3, called “Highland”, launched last September. The latter was entitled to a new design, increased autonomy and a quieter cabin. Details like customizable ambient lighting or an improved dashboard had also appeared. The Model Y could follow a similar trajectory with front-end tweaks, fuel efficiency optimizations and on-board comfort improvements.
The first photos of this new Model Y were seen in October near the Shanghai factory, which raised the temperature among Tesla fans. A short video filmed recently in California also shows a vehicle that could be this refreshed model.
In addition to this imminent update, Tesla would have longer-term plans for its Model Y. A six-seater version could see the light of day from the end of 2025. If this information is confirmed, it would be a first for this model , previously only available in five-seater configuration.
The Shanghai factory, a pillar of Tesla’s global production, plays a significant role in these projects. With an annual capacity of one million vehicles, it currently produces the Model 3 and Model Y for the Chinese market and beyond. In 2023, the Model Y represented nearly 73% of Tesla sales in China, with a total of 418,428 units delivered over the first eleven months of the year.
China, a key market for Tesla, is expected to be the first country to receive this refreshed version. In the United States, customers will have to wait, like the launch schedule for the Model 3 Highland, which arrived on the Chinese market five months before the first American deliveries.
With this restyling, Tesla is banking on a strategic renewal to maintain the appeal around its Model Y, one of its best-sellers. Between aesthetic changes and increased comfort, this new version should appeal to a wide audience. But the stakes are also economic: the introduction of a six-seater version could open up new markets, particularly for families.
For the moment, Tesla remains discreet on the precise details of this update, but electric car enthusiasts will quickly be able to judge for themselves, from the first deliveries planned in China. And for Western markets, we will probably have to wait until the second half of the year.
🟣 To not miss any news on the WorldOfSoftware, , .
