Tesla China has made a minor update to the Model Y crossover in China, focusing on small but notable changes to the exterior and interior. The base Model Y now has a slightly faster 0-100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds and black-painted Gemini Wheels, giving it a sleeker appearance. The interior update includes the addition of ambient lighting in the form of an LED strip that spans the dashboard. Despite these changes, the price of the base Model Y remains the same at RMB 263,900 ($36,100). This update aims to maintain strong sales for the Model Y in the Chinese market.
While this minor update enhances the appeal of the Model Y, it is important to note that it is not the highly-anticipated “Project Juniper” update that has been previously mentioned. Project Juniper is expected to implement exterior and interior changes from the Model 3 Highland, which has garnered high expectations. Therefore, the recent update to the Model Y in China can be seen as a minor update bridging the current generation and Project Juniper. Despite being a larger and heavier car than the Model 3, the base Model Y now has a faster 0-100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds, which is quite interesting.
Overall, this update to the Model Y by Tesla China aims to keep the sales of the all-electric crossover strong in China. While it does not introduce major changes, the faster acceleration, black-painted wheels, and ambient lighting contribute to an improved and more compelling vehicle. However, it should be noted that this is not the highly-anticipated Project Juniper update, which is expected to bring significant exterior and interior changes to the Model Y. Nevertheless, this update sets a positive tone for Tesla China as they enter the fourth quarter.
