During a conference call with analysts following Tesla’s first quarter financial results, CEO Elon Musk said that the Model Y, Tesla’s upcoming all-electric crossover, will be coming in “2020” or “late 2019” at best.
Musk describes the vehicle as key to Tesla’s achieving its goal of 1 million cars per year in 2020.
The timing is a little later than expected by industry watchers since a one-year production ramp up was anticipated for the vehicle to hit a production rate that would have contributed to Tesla’s overall production goal of 1 million units by 2020.
He confirmed that the vehicle will be built on a new platform, which is a change in Tesla’s plans since the company had previously disclosed plans to build the vehicle on the same platform as the Model 3.
The CEO mentioned a big change coming with the new platform: Tesla will get rid of the 12-volt battery architecture. It means no more lead-acid battery and a different way to power in-car electronics. Musk says that they will reduce the overall wiring significantly and simplify the production process.
Less wiring harness means easier automation in the production process and Musk plans a completely different – more automated – production line for the Model Y. He said that the Model 3 production lines will be comparable to the best lines in the industry while the Model Y line will be “something else”.
As for previously features of the Model Y, Tesla hasn’t released a ton of information about the vehicle, but Musk has said that the vehicle will feature ‘Falcon Wing’ doors like the Model X, which has been controversial among Tesla enthusiasts.
Last year, we asked our readers if they would want Falcon Wings on their Model Y and out of the 5,480 Electrek readers who took the poll, 58% said that they didn’t want the more complexed door system.
Considering we now learn that the vehicle will be on a new platform further down the road, I would assume that nothing is set in stone at this point.
Featured Image: Tesla Model Y unofficial render via Autocar.
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