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Tesla Model Y

The Tesla Model Y is a battery electric compact crossover SUV produced by Tesla, Inc. since 2020. Presented in March 2019 as the company's fifth production model, the Model Y is the best-selling electric vehicle of all time, having sold more than 2.16 million units worldwide.

History
Pre-launch In 2013, Tesla Motors filed to trademark the name "Model Y". Later in 2015, CEO Elon Musk teased a Model 3-based Model Y with falcon-wing doors. In 2017, a Model Y silhouette was teased to Tesla shareholders at the annual general meeting in June. Musk also announced that the Model Y would be produced in a new factory, as the Fremont plant would not have room to accommodate another production line. In June 2018, a new silhouette was revealed by Musk. He stated that the Model Y would be formally announced in March 2019. The Model Y announcement had been planned for 2018; however, production problems with the Model 3 resulted in it being pushed to 2019. In October 2018, Elon Musk revealed that he had approved the finalized design for the first production version of the Model Y, however production would not start until 2020. On March 3, 2019, Elon Musk published multiple tweets, announcing the unveiling event and confirming some specifications. Musk confirmed the vehicle would use standard doors, as opposed to the falcon-wing doors used on the Model X. Production Tesla originally announced plans at the unveil to assemble the Model Y at Giga Nevada (in Sparks, Nevada), along with the battery and drivetrain for the vehicles, unlike the Model 3, where drivetrains and batteries are assembled at Giga Nevada, with final assembly completed at the Tesla Factory in Fremont, California. Two months later, in May 2019, Tesla said that they instead planned to shuffle production lines at the Tesla Fremont Factory to make space for Model Y production. On January 29, 2020, Tesla reported in its Q4 2019 earnings report that Model Y production had already started in the Fremont factory, that one can now place an order for their premium versions with all-wheel drive, and that delivery of Model Y would begin in Q1 2020. In November 2019, Tesla announced that the Tesla Model Y would be the first vehicle to be assembled at the first European Gigafactory, Giga Berlin. Tesla started deliveries of the Berlin-made Model Y since March 2022, mainly for European markets. In November 2020, Tesla signed an agreement with LG Chem to supply battery cells for Model Y production in China. On October 7, 2020, Musk tweeted that Giga Berlin Model Y would get single-piece rear and front frame cast, structural battery pack, and new 4680 cells. Vehicles manufactured from April 2021 no longer include radar for adaptive cruise control, and those from May the same year lack lumbar support on passenger seats. Model Y vehicles produced from October 2022 no longer include ultrasonic sensors. As a result, the vehicles now rely solely on cameras to provide driver assistance features. == Design ==
Design
The Tesla Model Y featured a streamlined crossover design derived from the Model 3 sedan, adopting similar proportions and surface treatment while integrating a higher roofline and hatchback-style tailgate. The overall form emphasized aerodynamics, achieving a drag coefficient of 0.23, with smooth body surfacing and mechanical flush door handles. At the front, the Model Y retained the brand's grilleless fascia, with narrow LED headlamps and a sculpted bumper forming a continuous curve into the front fenders. The roofline followed a fastback silhouette tapering toward a short rear overhang, visually aligning the Model Y closer to a coupe SUV profile rather than a traditional SUV. The rear design incorporated a full-width tailgate with integrated LED taillights and a discreet lip spoiler on the liftgate edge. A black plastic lower diffuser contrasted the body color was added to reduce perceived height. == Technical details ==
Technical details
Heat pump The Model Y is Tesla's first vehicle to use a heat pump instead of electric resistance for interior cabin heating. Electric cars using electric resistance heating can lose 40% or more of their range in ambient temperatures below . The heat pump can be up to 300% more efficient than electric resistance heating. Some electric vehicles from other manufacturers, including the Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe, BMW i3, Jaguar I-Pace, Audi Q8 e-tron, and Kia Niro, had already implemented heat pumps. Tesla's heat pump has been praised for using far fewer parts. Tesla's heat pump system includes unique features including the "Super Manifold" and the "Octovalve". Inside the Super Manifold two systems meet: one for water-glycol coolant (used for managing the temperature of the battery, computers and powertrain) and the other for R1234YF refrigerant (used for cabin temperature control). The two systems share a liquid cooled condenser and a chiller. The Octovalve has eight ports that move the coolant around the different systems of the vehicle. The system allows the vehicle to remove waste heat from the vehicle's systems and use it to warm the cabin. Musk has said that the new heat pump system is one of the two most significant changes in the Model Y over the Model 3 (which included it too in 2021), the other being the new single-piece castings. Radar Vehicles produced since May 2021 lack radar for adaptive cruise control. In February 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation over phantom braking in these new vehicles. As of May 2024, the investigation is still ongoing. Software update 2022.20.9 transitioned radar equipped Model Ys (and Model 3s) to Tesla Vision. Steering assist is limited to , down from on vehicles with radar and minimum following distance has been increased to two car lengths from one. Single-piece castings In August 2020, it was reported that the Tesla Factory in Fremont would soon activate the world's largest unibody casting machine for Model Y production, switching to casting the rear body in a single piece. Elon Musk told an interviewer that the Berlin-made Model Y is "not just a copy of the Model Y. It's actually a radical redesign of the core technology of building a car." With this new design and production method, rear and front portions of the frame will be a single-cast design. Injecting molten aluminum into a cast and having robots pull out the molded metal allowed Tesla to combine several manufacturing steps. This manufacturing process is expected to result in significant cost savings, reducing a complex structural frame of dozens of parts, requiring many hours of welding to be reduced to just 1 part. Other savings include lower tool investments, reduced production time, lower number of robots, and a smaller production area. In August 2020, Tesla started assembling the world's biggest casting machine for this purpose, which the company called the Giga Press. The machine was supplied by Italian company Idra. Production of the Model Y with single-piece rear casting was reported to have started in late December 2020. The new process unified 70 different metal parts into two large parts. In May 2024, Reuters reported that Tesla had abandoned its plans to adopt the one-piece gigacasting process, due to large upfront investment costs and a larger strategic realignment towards autonomous driving and the Tesla Robotaxi. == 2025 refresh ==
2025 refresh
Model Y Premium (originally Long Range) On January 10, 2025, Tesla launched a refreshed Long Range version of the Model Y. Internally codenamed "Juniper", the new Model Y features a full-width light bar as its daytime running lights and tail light, as well as a touchscreen for passengers in the rear seat. Top speed of the non-performance versions was reduced from . The long range version also increased the range from . As customers of other models complained about the lack of the turn signal stalk, the 2025 Model Y refresh keeps the traditional turn signal stalk. Changes to the exterior of the new Model Y include a sleeker front design with a more streamlined nose and a thin light bar across the hood. Technical revisions include redesigned wheels and rear diffuser to reduce drag and to "optimise lift balance" between the front and rear wheels for less noise and improved stability at high speeds. Its cabin adopts design cues from the updated Model 3, including wraparound ambient lighting, a 15.4-inch central touchscreen, ventilated seats, and an 8-inch rear touchscreen for second-row passengers. It also received upgrades such as powered rear seats and improved suspension for a more comfortable ride. A limited-run Launch Series was also introduced to mark the start of production for the refreshed Model Y. This special edition is distinguished by a Launch Series badge on the rear liftgate, a puddle lamp logo, and Launch Series wordmarks applied to the doorsill plates and device charging console. For units specified with the black interior, the cabin also features vegan suede upholstery. It was rebranded as the Model Y Premium in North America in October 2025 after the introduction of the Model Y Standard. Debuting in China and produced at Gigafactory Shanghai, the variant introduces a six-seat configuration with a lengthened cabin and upgraded interior features. It is equipped with 19-inch aero wheels in a new design and offers a new exterior colour option called Cosmic Silver. Deliveries in China commenced on September 2, 2025. The Model Y L measures in length, in width, in height, and has a wheelbase. Compared with the standard Model Y, it is longer and taller, with most of the added length contributing to a longer wheelbase. The redesigned roofline and rear spoiler result in a drag coefficient of 0.216. The curb weight of the Model Y L is , which is more than the dual-motor AWD version of the standard Model Y. On March 13, 2026, Tesla officially launched the Model Y L in Australia and New Zealand, marking its first release outside of the Chinese domestic market. In these countries, the variant is marketed as the "Premium Long Range AWD," with customer deliveries scheduled to commence in the second quarter of 2026. This model was also launched in the Philippines in March 2026 as the first Southeast Asian country to receive the Model Y L. Its cabin adopts a 2-2-2 seating layout, replacing the second-row bench with two captain chairs and adding a 50:50 split-folding third row. The captain chairs feature heating, ventilation, and power reclining functions. Cargo capacity increases to , compared with for the standard version. The dashboard layout is largely identical to the standard Model Y, with minor revisions such as a larger 16-inch central touchscreen display (previously 15.4inches). The upgraded wireless charging pad supports simultaneous fast charging up to 50W and 30W. The audio system includes 19speakers, a subwoofer, and two additional overhead speakers. Each seating row is equipped with charging ports, and the front seats gain extendable under-thigh support. Power is supplied by a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system paired with a nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) lithium-ion battery. While the Chinese domestic variant utilizes an pack, the Australian and New Zealand models are equipped with a larger (gross) battery, providing a usable capacity of approximately . The front motor produces , while the rear motor delivers , resulting in a combined theoretical output of and of torque. Tesla claims a acceleration time of 4.5seconds for the Chinese variant, whereas the Australian and New Zealand specification is rated at 5.0seconds due to the additional of curb weight from the extended chassis and larger battery pack. The driving range is rated at on the CLTC cycle for China, while the Australian and New Zealand models are certified for under the WLTP standard. As of mid-2025, Tesla has not confirmed whether the Model Y L will be produced outside of China. Model Y Performance The refreshed Model Y Performance debuted in August 2025, as the top-spec variant of the normal wheelbase Model Y lineup, initially for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The North American market model was introduced in October 2025. The updated Model Y Performance shares several components with the updated Model 3 Performance, while featuring notable upgrades in powertrain and chassis tuning. It gains new front and rear bumpers, a carbon fiber rear spoiler, and other tweaks that together yield 10% less drag and 64% reduced lift, improving front-to-rear balance by 27% over the previous model. Additional exterior highlights include gloss black trim, red brake calipers, 21-inch Arachnid 2.0 forged wheels, and a rear badge with Performance puddle lamps. It has ground clearance, lower than the Long Range AWD model. It weighs , which is more than the dual-motor Long Range variant. The Model Y Performance uses Tesla's Performance 4DU dual-motor system, producing . It accelerates from in 3.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of . For comparison, the Long Range AWD variant requires 4.8 seconds and tops out at . The increased performance comes with a slightly reduced WLTP range of , compared to on the Long Range AWD. The updated Performance variant is equipped with a new high-density battery pack, marketed as the 5M battery supplied by LG Energy Solution with around 82 to 84 kWh of usable energy that maintains the same weight as the standard version. The updated Model Y Performance became the first Model Y to feature vehicle-to-load (V2L) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) bi-directional charging. Removed features include the FM/AM radio, interior ambient lighting, power folding mirrors, front ventilated seats, rear heated seats, power adjustment for rear seats and steering wheel, HEPA filter and the rear seat infotainment screen. Tesla Autopilot is limited to traffic aware cruise control without autosteering. The maximum charging speed is reduced to 225 kW from 250 kW on the Performance and Premium trims. The trim also uses passive shock absorbers instead of the frequency-dependent units fitted to other models. Instead of replacing the glass roof with a regular metal roof, Tesla opted for the Standard version to be fitted with a headliner with sound deadener to cover the glass roof. In North America, the Model Y Standard retails for $5,000 less than the Premium RWD trim. == Markets and configurations ==
Markets and configurations
United States During its introduction, there were four planned powertrain configurations for the Model Y in the U.S., which are Standard Range Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), Long Range RWD, Long Range with Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive (AWD), and Performance (with Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive). However, the Long Range RWD model was not produced until 2024. The Standard Range RWD configuration was initially canceled in July 2020 after being listed as to be announced in "spring 2021", due to the range () being unacceptably low to CEO Elon Musk. On January 7, 2021, Tesla once again released the Standard Range RWD configuration, alongside the seven-seat option for the Model Y. The Standard Range RWD features of EPA-estimated range. Tesla stopped taking orders for the variant in February 2021, making it the shortest-lived configuration offered for the Model Y. After reports emerged in February 2021, on December 6, 2021, Tesla formally notified customers who had pre-ordered the Long Range RWD that their chosen configuration is no longer available in the U.S. According to reports, this configuration was never delivered in the U.S. On April 9, 2022, Tesla began building the Standard Range AWD configuration. Manufactured at Gigafactory Texas, it was equipped with the new 4680 battery cells and structural battery pack technology rated at of EPA range. At first, this configuration was only available for employees, invited reservation holders, and customers residing in the Texas area. Around April 7, 2023, Tesla made the configuration for sale to the general public. On September 14, Tesla stopped taking orders for the Standard Range AWD. On January 12, 2023, Tesla announced a significant price reduction for the Model Y and Model 3. This reduction made the Model Y Long Range eligible for the federal tax credit of $7,500 under the Inflation Reduction Act, which is applicable only for cars that are priced below $55,000. Tesla reintroduced the Standard Range RWD model to the US market in October 2023. In May 2024, the Standard Range RWD model was no longer offered for sale and was replaced by a Long Range RWD model. This allowed more US manufactured vehicles that qualified for the US federal tax credit to be sold in the US. Australia Orders for the Model Y in Australia opened on 10 June 2022, with the initial lineup consisting of the Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) and Performance AWD imported from Gigafactory Shanghai. Deliveries commenced in August 2022. The Long Range AWD configuration was added on April 4, 2023. On March 13, 2026, Tesla restructured the Australian lineup to focus on "Premium" trim levels and launched the Model Y L, a three-row, six-seat variant. This made Australia the first export market for the extended-wheelbase model outside of China. While the RWD, Long Range, and Y L models continue to be sourced from Shanghai, the Performance AWD was shifted to production at Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg in Germany. The 2026 Model Y Performance was priced at $89,400 (before on-road costs) to remain below the Australian Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles, which was set at $91,387 for the 2025–26 financial year. This strategic pricing avoids the 33% tax levy applied to the value above the threshold, bringing the flagship's local cost into closer parity with United States pricing. China On June 5, 2020, Tesla launched the Model Y Online design studio for the Chinese market, allowing customers in China to place orders for the upcoming made-in-China Model Y. First delivery of the model was made on January 18, 2021. On January 1, 2021, Tesla started selling the Model Y in China, and it sold out its planned production (an unknown quantity) for Q1 2021 within 6 days. In June 2024, the Jiangsu province government listed the Model Y as being eligible for purchase for government use. It is the first time that a Tesla car entered China's official vehicle procurement catalog. India On July 15, 2025, Tesla launched the Model Y in India. The units are imported from China. == Specifications ==
Recalls
• In July 2025, 2020-2024 Tesla Model Y, 2017-2024 Tesla Model 3, 2016-2024 Tesla Model X and 2013-2024 Tesla Model S were recalled for issues with open hood latch detection while in driving state. • In January 2025, Tesla recalled some 2024–2025 Model 3 and Model S vehicles and some 2023–2025 Model X and Model Y vehicles for a software update to avoid shorting the car computer, preventing (among other things) the rear view camera from displaying. Software releases 2024.44.25.3, 2024.44.25.6, or later contain changes to the power-up sequence. Computers that were damaged had to be replaced under warranty to complete the remedy. • In February 2025, more than 370,000 potentially affected vehicles (both Model 3 and Model Y) were recalled to address possible loss of power to electronic power-assisted steering. • 48 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles produced between April 3, 2025, and May 7, 2025, were recalled due to improperly torqued seat fasteners. • In July 2025, 5 Tesla vehicles of the 2026 Model Y, manufactured between March 27, 2025, and July 10, 2025, were recalled for an improperly secured horn ground wire, potentially rendering the horn inoperable. • In August 2025, the Australian federal government recalled 7301 vehicles manufactured in the 2025 range over a software flaw that could result in the window closing on body parts. == Safety ==
Safety
Ratings Concerns and investigations Model Y doors are electrically operated from the inside, so, in case of an accident or malfunction, occupants may be locked inside the car if they do not know how to operate the manual door release that is more complex in rear doors. Not all Model Y vehicles have a rear door manual release. In September 2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a safety investigation into over 174,000 Model Y vehicles made in 2021 over door handles after reports of being unable to open the doors after leaving the car, in some cases, leading to entrapping of children inside the vehicle. The car has hidden car handles. China is banning them over safety concerns. Tesla has until January 1, 2027, to change the design if they want to continue selling cars in China. Other countries are investigating if hidden car handles should be banned too. == Reception ==
Reception
The Model Y has been generally positively received. Critics praised the car's quick acceleration, spacious interior, and range. However, they criticized the vehicle's clumsy handling, stiff ride, and "bizarre looks". The Model Y was also touted as the leader in its class, but reviewers note that competition is rising with numerous alternatives hitting the market from other manufacturers. In March 2024, Consumer Reports named the 2024 Model Y to its "Best Cars of the Year: 10 Top Picks of 2024" list, the only electric car to make the list. Model Y was best selling car worldwide in 2023. == Awards ==
Awards
• In 2023, the Tesla Model Y won the Autovista Group Residual Value Award in the category of Compact and Large Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) SUV. The Model Y also won the Best Company Car award at the 2024 Carbuyer Best Car Awards. • In 2024, the Tesla Model Y won Auto Trader New car of the year award. Tesla Model Y also won Top Safety pick+ award from The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Tesla Model Y also won Best family EV in parent poll by BabyCenter. Won Best Company Car by Parkers. == Sales ==
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