Tesla launches facelifted Model Y

Without much fanfare, Tesla has unveiled a refreshed Model Y in China with design tweaks, extended range, and enhanced performance. However, these upgrades come with a price hike. The revamped Model Y, launched first on Tesla's Chinese website, is available in two "Launch Series" variants: a rear-wheel-drive version and a long-range all-wheel-drive version. Deliveries will start in March, subject to regulatory approval in China.

The rear-wheel-drive Model Y starts at RMB 263,500 ($35,940), while the long-range all-wheel-drive version begins at RMB 303,500 ($41,400). This is a slight increase from the previous Model Y's starting prices; the entry-level version of the facelifted Model Y sees a price bump of RMB 13,600 ($1,850), while the long-range all-wheel-drive version is up by RMB 12,600 ($1,700).

Tesla offers early adopters an extended warranty. Customers who place orders for the Launch Series before February 28 will receive an additional two years or 24,900 miles of warranty coverage.

The facelifted Model Y gets a redesigned exterior, drawing inspiration from Tesla's Cybertruck and Cybercab robotaxi. The biggest change is the cut-through light cluster design for both the headlights and taillights, a design element that has become increasingly common among Chinese EV manufacturers.

Beyond aesthetics, the updated Model Y offers improved range and performance. The rear-wheel-drive version, equipped with a 62.5 kWh battery pack, achieves a CLTC range of 368 miles, 24 miles more than its predecessor. Powered by a 220 kW rear electric motor, it accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 5.3 seconds, outperforming its predecessor by 0.6 s.

The long-range all-wheel-drive variant promises an even more impressive 447 miles CLTC range, thanks to its 78.4 kWh battery pack. That's a 19 miles improvement and a new range record for the Model Y. With a combined power output of 331 kW from its dual electric motors, it sprints from 0 to 62 mph in 4.3 seconds.

Both variants have a top speed of 125 mph. The rear-wheel-drive variant supports up to 170 kW DC charging, and the long-range version up to 250 kW. Tesla claims a 15-minute charge can replenish 155 miles of range.

The facelifted Model Y measures 188.9 inches in length, 75.6 inches in width, and 63.9 inches in height, with a wheelbase of 113.8 inches. The rear-wheel-drive variant weighs 4,235 lb, while the long-range version weighs 4,392 lb.

Tesla has equipped the facelifted Model Y with its latest Hardware 4.0 (AI4) Autopilot as a standard feature. The base exterior color is grey, with options for white and blue at an additional cost of RMB 8,000 ($1,080), and red and silver for RMB 12,000 ($1,640).

Shortly after launching the new Model Y on its Chinese website, Tesla started taking orders for it in New Zealand and Singapore as well. As expected, the prices are significantly higher - in Singapore the RWD model starts at nearly $56,000, while the Long Range version is priced at $63,300. In New Zealand the RWD trim comes in at $42,700 and the Long Range model starts from $46,400. The really interesting bit is that in China and Singapore there's an option to choose 5-seat layout, without any other trim available - this suggests there's a 7-seat version on the way to those two markets.

The Model Y has quickly become a benchmark in the Chinese electric SUV segment, influencing the pricing strategies of many domestic automakers. In 2024, Tesla delivered 480,309 Model Y units in China, accounting for 73.1 percent of the company's total deliveries in the country.

Despite a slight dip in global deliveries in 2024, Tesla experienced growth in China, delivering 657,102 vehicles, an 8.85 percent increase from 2023. Model Y deliveries in China rose by 5.24 percent, while Model 3 deliveries saw a more significant jump of 20.05 percent.

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