Tesla allegedly developing a cheaper Model Y for China

While Tesla's revamped Model Y (codenamed Juniper) has been quite successful in China since its introduction in January, the company is allegedly ready to placate the increasing number of competitors this car has with a slight variation.

It would be a cheaper Model Y, according to a new report, and it seems like it could be exclusive to the Chinese market. The cheaper model wouldn't have "much change" in battery, power, and chassis, whatever that means, but would cut costs elsewhere.

It's unclear what exactly the cost-cutting would entail, but presumably interior materials could be changed, similarly to what happened with a cheaper Model 3 introduced in Mexico in August of last year.

The cheaper Model Y apparently isn't sure to launch - Tesla's Chinese team has developed it, but the actual release depends on how well the normal Model Y continues to perform, sales-wise. So if sales go well, the cheaper option will stay shelved. If the normal Model Y's sales drop significantly, then Tesla China will use the cheaper option as a way to bring people back.

Of course it remains to be seen what those who paid more for the normal version will think of a cheaper car with no major changes to battery, power, and chassis arriving on the market only a few months or so later - if that happens, of course. It's all a big "if" right now, do keep that in mind.

Via