A new Tesla Model Y with camouflage has been spotted testing in California. Is a refresh coming soon?
After the Model 3 refresh launched last year, there have been many rumors about a Model Y refresh to follow.
It started last year with a Reuters report that claimed Tesla was planning a Model Y refresh called Juniper to come out in 2024.
Later, a Bloomberg report added that Tesla planned to release a Model Y refresh in “mid-2024”.
Tesla has shut does rumor down. Tesla and CEO Elon Musk have stated that Tesla doesn’t plan to refresh the Model Y “this year.” It’s important to note that both Tesla and Musk specifically mentioned “this year” when trying to shut down rumors of a new Model Y.
Now, a Tesla Model Y with camouflage at the front of the back has been spotted around Los Angeles, California:
Top comment by Aigars Mahinovs
Tesla is playing this both ways - Elon insisting to customers that there is no refresh coming (please, keep buying the old one!) and at the same time hinting to investors that the refresh is coming soon (we still have some demand levers coming!).
If there is a Model Y refresh, expect the results to be the same as Model 3 refresh - a 2-3 month bump in sales and after that a decline back to levels lower than before the refresh. For example, in Germany Model 3 sales in this year is in 15th place .. behind Mercedes EQE or BMW i4. And Model S (also after refresh) is having less than half the sales of BMW i7. And Model X gets its sales quadrupled by Mercedes EQV and tenfolded by BMW iX.
At this point Tesla needs a clean re-design, based on a 800V+ system with some actual benefits to the drivers and owners of the cars, not just cost benefits to Elon.
The position of the camouflage was similar to the one seen on Model 3 prototypes before its own refresh last year.
Electrek’s Take
This would point to a similar update to the Model Y that happened on Model 3 last year. Visually, it should mean a new front-end, updated rear-end, and new lighting systems.
In the interior, it means a new steering wheel, which should be interesting as the new steering wheel in Model 3 is somewhat controversial and it will be interesting to see if Tesla will risk putting it in its most popular vehicle by far.
As for timing, I think it’s likely true that it is not coming this year, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes super early next year.
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