Facelift Model Y

[Ken]

Did you know a BYD Dolphin in Australia is Aus$ 30K. (c£15K) Why do people think they need to pay double that for a car in the UK.

[Mart]

I have zero confidence in a "new cheaper" Tesla anytime soon. Musk is still all-in on his full autonomy koolaid, and that CyberCab thing, can't see them making a version of that with a wheel and pedals. And even if they do, cars with 2 seats don't tend to sell well in any segment, budget or premium.

Hi Dan, I think that's where the confusion is. Plans for a smaller cheaper new model, typically referred to as the Model 2, appear to have been shelved. And yes Elon has been clear that the 2 seat Cybercab, will not be produced in a version with wheel and pedals.

But Tesla has repeatedly mentioned plans to build some 'more affordable' models, which I think is simply code, for cut down versions of the 3 & Y.

Here is what Tesla has stated in the 2024 Q2 earnings report, and the Q3 report:

Plans for new vehicles, including more affordable models, remain on track for start of production in the first half of 2025. These vehicles will utilize aspects of the next generation platform as well as aspects of our current platforms and will be able to be produced on the same manufacturing lines as our current vehicle line-up.

This approach will result in achieving less cost reduction than previously expected but enables us to prudently grow our vehicle volumes in a more capex efficient manner during uncertain times. This should help us fully utilize our current expected maximum capacity of close to three million vehicles, enabling more than 50% growth over 2023 production before investing in new manufacturing lines.

Our purpose-built Robotaxi product will continue to pursue a revolutionary “unboxed” manufacturing strategy.

But of course, this is Tesla, where info is always lacking, and things can change fast. So I'm looking forward to the next earnings report (for Q4 2024), to see how this statement is repeated, changes, or disappears completely. Only my opinion, but 'first half of 2025', is now upon us, and even looking to late June, is still the very near future for such statements, so hopefully there will be some sort of update, rather than just a repeat(?) Also the earnings report is scheduled for the 29th Jan, which is about one week later than most reports, but that may mean nothing.

More thoughts/ponders, is that cheaper versions of current models, could have a huge Osborne Effect on sales, so that may be why we hear so little about it. I suspect a sudden announcement of vehicles being almost available, or the complete opposite, and them being dropped.

Clear as mud, as always.

[Mart]

And as usual, forgot to mention lots.

So, more affordable, doesn't necessarily mean available in all markets. Tesla already offers slightly cheaper vehicles in Mexico, with some spec reductions, and cheaper cloth seat material.

And this will, I assume, depend a lot on factory production levels. Supposedly every $5k or £5k price reduction, doubles the market for a vehicle. So a $35k model sells into a market with twice the size v's $40k, and a $30k into a market with 4x the size of the $40k.

And the vehicles may only have some features removed, with others simply software locked, with the potential to unlock for a fee - made up example, such as the UK TM3 base vehicle sold with 263 miles WLTP range, instead of 363, but the option to unlock the rest for £X's.

All of this is my personal guesswork, take none of it seriously. However, I don't think Tesla can repeat their 'affordable models' statement again (in late Jan), unless things are progressing well. So I expect some sort of update, or even a withdrawl, in the Q4 earnings report.

[Mart]

The new Y is now on the UK website (or is it?)

Tesla mention the launch edition Y (LR AWD), available from May, but don't give all of the specs, whilst looking at other options shows the 'old' TMY and prices.

Launch edition UK is I think £9k more, but appears to come with free paint upgrade, acceleration boost unlocked, and 'more', but not sure what more is. I think in other countries it may include FSD or the enhanced driving offering.

Best bet, is probably to wait for things to settle down, especially as Tesla has a habit of cutting prices once a model has established itself.

[dan_b]

It does rather look like they've bumped the price for the Y with the relaunch - at least for now - it's a £60k car now. Might dent its popularity a little?

Amusingly, it seems to now have 1 stalk for the indicators, unlike the Model 3 Highland and S/X!
Still requires swipe on the screen to select drive mode.

[Stinsy]

The new Y is now on the UK website (or is it?)

Tesla mention the launch edition Y (LR AWD), available from May, but don't give all of the specs, whilst looking at other options shows the 'old' TMY and prices.

Launch edition UK is I think £9k more, but appears to come with free paint upgrade, acceleration boost unlocked, and 'more', but not sure what more is. I think in other countries it may include FSD or the enhanced driving offering.

Best bet, is probably to wait for things to settle down, especially as Tesla has a habit of cutting prices once a model has established itself.

It's on there:



Seems expensive!

[dan_b]

Yeah, given they essentially killed the S and X in the UK with no RHD option, this is now their most expensive car in their UK range.

[Stinsy]

Yeah, given they essentially killed the S and X in the UK with no RHD option, this is now their most expensive car in their UK range.

TMY isn't big enough for my family.

TMS and TMX haven't been updated in eons. Essentially left to die off. It really feels as if Tesla is a 1-man company and his attention is elsewhere ATM.

[Yuff]

Stinsy

Have you test driven the Y its pretty big

[Stinsy]

Stinsy

Have you test driven the Y its pretty big

2-adults, 3-kids, and a dog, who like to go on camping holidays.

The XC90 PHEV we had was the right size when we had 2 kids, with a roofbox it'd be good for 3(*). Our iD4 is way too small, TMY is a bit bigger but nowhere near big enough. I saw the EQS SUV at Goodwood a few years ago, right size wrong price!


* I hated everything about the XC90 except its size! The interior was crap, airvents disintegrated into 100 teeny pieces if you looked at them too hard, it was top-of-the-range "Inscription" model but that just meant loads of cheap-looking plastic fake chrome. The 2.0L petrol engine was like hooking a racehorse up to a heavy cart and they hybrid was too weedy with a way-too-small battery (press the throttle more than ¼ of the way down and the engine would start and not turn off for ages. And I never did get on with the touchscreen.