Industry dynamics

Tesla won't launch Model Y 'refresh' this year, Musk says

Publishtime:1970-01-01 08:00:00 Views:31

“No Model Y 'refresh' is coming out this year,” Musk said.

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) CEO Elon Musk said the electric vehicle (EV) maker won't be releasing a refreshed Model Y crossover this year, after recent rumors circulated.

“No Model Y 'refresh' is coming out this year,” Musk said today on X, the social media platform he owns.

“I should note that Tesla continuously improves its cars, so even a car that is 6 months newer will be a little better,” he added.

He mentioned this in a reply to an X user who said “There's rumors going around that the $TSLA Model Y Refresh will be ready by next month.... I'm having a hard time believing that."

Musk's account on Weibo -- China's equivalent of X -- posted the same content in Chinese, seemingly aimed at telling potential car buyers not to wait.

Tesla's current models include the Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck.

The Model 3 and Model Y are locally produced in China, the other Tesla models are not.

Sales of the updated Model 3, or Model 3 Highland, began in China on October 19, 2023, marking the first major update to the EV model, which was originally launched in 2017.

On March 1 of last year, Reuters reported that Tesla was preparing production modifications to the Model Y, which was expected to begin production in October 2024.

The changes to the Model Y -- which Tesla codenamed Project Juniper -- involve the exterior and interior of the SUV, according to the report.

Citing two people familiar with the matter, the report said Tesla had separately solicited quotes from suppliers for exterior and interior components for the Juniper version of the Model Y, which would go into production in 2024.

The Model Y is one of the best-selling models in the world, though it appears to be facing relatively soft demand in China.

Tesla's Shanghai plant planned to cut Model Y production by at least 20 percent between March and June, Reuters said in a May 24 report.

Nio's William Li asks potential Tesla Model Y buyers to wait for Alps' 1st model