Barely a week after the reveal of the much-anticipated Tesla Model Y Juniper in China – essentially a heavily updated version of the world’s best-selling electric vehicle (EV) – we’re getting news that Tesla is already expanding production elsewhere in the world. If we are to base ourselves on what happened with the updated Model 3 (code-named Highland), the next market for the new Model Y will be Europe. Turns out Tesla is wasting no time kick-starting Model Y production for that market. It all starts today, actually.
Tesla Speeds Up Model Y Juniper Production In An Attempt To Bump Sales
According to German media outlet Handelsblatt, production of the Model Y Juniper is set to begin today at its Grünheide plant, a facility that, up until now, has only built Model Ys. According to sources close to the matter, the plant’s employees were informed about this new production roadmap on Monday.
Tesla is speeding up Model Y Juniper availability because it saw, for the first time in years, a significant drop in EV sales last year. Globally, the American giant delivered 1,789,226, which is down one-percent from the 1,808,581 EVs shipped in 2023. It’s worth noting that 2023 was 38-percent better than 2022. Every market where Tesla sells cars saw a tough year, except in China, where sales have been steadily increasing.
So, the race is on for Tesla as stiff competition in this segment is out there to grab the Model Y’s lunch money. I’m referring, of course, to strong sellers like the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and the Chevrolet Equinox EV/Honda Prologue twins, to say nothing of the increasingly competitive Chinese machine.
While production for the Model Y begins in Germany as I write this, Tesla has also made the vehicle available for order in other markets like Australia and New Zealand, with deliveries expected in May. As for us here in the U.S., we’ll need to wait a little longer. We could only expect the Model Y Juniper to arrive sometime this summer.
What’s New About The Updated Tesla Model Y?
The new Model Y is a huge deal for Tesla, as it’s currently its best-selling vehicle. It’s also sitting in the compact crossover segment where the bulk of carmakers generate their profit. There’s therefore a lot of pressure on Tesla’s shoulders to continue delivering a solid product.
Mainly, what changes on the Model Y Juniper are mostly improvements in design, drag coefficient, build quality, handling, and technology. At its core, the Model Y is still essentially the same car, but Tesla made significant improvements in the way its body is streamlined to improve aerodynamics in an attempt to increase range. There are also all-new front and rear fascias, as well as a slightly redesigned interior, with improved cabin materials and better seats.
The entire suspension geometry was overhauled for what should be a more premium-feeling ride. I personally witnessed these changes in the Model 3, and they made a world of difference versus the previous model. Finally, Tesla decided to keep the physical blinker stalk, contrary to the Model 3 which relies on buttons on the steering wheel instead. Thank you, Tesla.
It’s still unclear when the German-built Model Y will be available to the public, and we still don’t have many details about its technical specifications or range. It’s the same story for the North American model. We’ll only know more as we get closer to the Model Y’s official U.S. release.
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