Tesla Model Y facelift: Will production begin in January?

Juniper variant with greater range to be launched in Shanghai soon

Tesla Model Y facelift (

Photo by: insideevs.com

By: Stefan Leichsenring

Published by: Brian Potter

Dec 20, 2024 at 5:23am ET

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The Gigafactory in Shanghai will begin production of the facelifted Tesla Model Y as early as January 2025, writes the Chinese LatePost. The version internally codenamed "Juniper" has been expected for some time, especially since the Model 3 already received a facelift in autumn 2023.

The changes should otherwise be similar to the modifications made to the Model 3 (codenamed "Highland"): in addition to slimmer headlights and C-shaped tail lights, a simplified cockpit without a steering column lever, a modified chassis, increased range and a top speed reduced to 201 km/h are to be expected.

While the current version of the Model Y is also available as an optional seven-seater, the new variant will be a six-seater with two seats per row. This is to be delivered from the fourth quarter of 2025, i.e. in October at the earliest. This was reported by CnEVPost, citing Chinese media.

Tesla Model Y Facelift (

Tesla Model Y facelift ("Juniper") in side view (screenshot from the video by Colin W. on X)

Photo by: Colin W. on X

Juniper models have also been spotted in the USA, as our US colleagues report; among them is the following video, which is supposed to show the slightly camouflaged car. In the above screenshot from the video, however, we can only guess at the covered front lights and the more angular front end. The rendering from InsideEvs.com, which we are using as the cover image for this article, is the clearest indication of what to expect.

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With an annual capacity of around 1 million vehicles, the Shanghai plant is the largest Tesla factory in the world; Model 3 and Model Y are built there. While the Model 3 delivered in Germany comes from Shanghai, as far as we know, the Model Y usually comes from the factory in Berlin-Grünheide. It is not yet known when the facelifted Model Y will also be built there.

The Model Y is still the best-selling electric car in the UK, even if the gap between it and competitors is shrinking. An improved version is therefore urgently needed. The Model Y is also no longer technically top of the range. Unlike the Model 3, the car no longer makes it into the top ten most economical electric cars. The 373 miles of the Model Y Long Range RWD are also no longer enough for the top ten models with the longest range. When it comes to fast charging, however, the car is still on a par with the competition with up to 1.9 kWh/min, at least if the unofficial data is correct.

More Model Y news:

Tesla gives one year of free charging to Model Y buyers

New Tesla Model Y will feature an LED light bar

7-seat Tesla Model Y announced in UK: New for large families

New Tesla Model Y in UK updated: 373 miles of range for £46,990

Sources: LatePost via CNEVPost, InsideEVs.com

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