After years of speculation and waiting, Tesla is ready with the facelifted Model Y. The first customers can already order the car. But that requires them to live in China.
The new Tesla Model Y has just been presented by the manufacturer in China. The car, which is already Denmark's best-selling car , is being introduced in an updated version with several changes.
The first details have been published, and the model can already be ordered on Tesla's Chinese website.
At the same time, there are reports that earlier versions of the Model Y have been illegally modified by third-party suppliers, something Tesla is now trying to shut down with the official facelift.
The new Model Y will be available for a limited time until February 28, Tesla says in China.
The car brand highlights, among other things, a longer range, a changed design and a quieter interior.
"The first edition will be sold for a limited time until February 28," Tesla in China said.
The design of the new model clearly shows inspiration from Tesla's Cybertruck and the Cybercab robot taxi. The front has been lowered, the headlights are narrower, and the rear has been significantly updated.
Drag has been reduced from Cd 0.23 to Cd 0.22, contributing to a longer range and less noise in the cabin – at least in theory. These changes are expected to improve the car's performance without changing the basic technological solutions.
Inside, a number of things have also been tweaked. The cabin now has lights that run along the interior, and a screen has been added for rear seat passengers like in the Model 3.
The dashboard and door sides have been redesigned, while the gear selector is now integrated into the touchscreen. These updates bring the Model Y closer to the design found in the Tesla Model 3, which was facelifted a year and a half ago.
The rear-wheel drive version of the Model Y starts at around 280,000 Danish kroner in China, an increase of around 14,000 kroner compared to before. Deliveries begin in March. But it is not yet known when the new model will come to other markets.
With this update, Tesla aims to maintain the Model Y's popularity while eliminating the need for illegal modifications to the car.
The revised design and improved specifications result in a model that will likely continue to find its way to many new owners both in and outside of China. Whether it will be enough to also be Denmark's most popular car in 2025 is still far too early to say anything definitive.
