After beginning with several Model Y Juniper refresh trial units in October, Tesla has reportedly achieved a production rate exceeding 200 updated vehicles per day at its Gigafactory in Shanghai, gearing up for mass production that is set to commence in January.
Launch Preparations
Preparations for the Model Y Juniper launch are also in progress at Tesla’s facilities in Texas and Berlin. Notably, the German Gigafactory is waiting for a staff meeting next month to discuss production plans for the facelift. These details hint at an upcoming announcement from Tesla regarding the Model Y Juniper and shed light on the various sightings across the US, Europe, and China over the past few weeks.
Design Insights
During the Christmas holidays, the Juniper facelift was spotted again, this time being tested on the roads of California and New York. A photograph from Santa Clara shows an intriguing design feature at the back, as there is growing agreement that a light bar will be positioned across the tailgate.
Instead of being hidden behind the test mule’s camo tarp, a single red light on this prospective Model Y Juniper sticks out through a cutout, appearing to function merely as a third brake light. This doesn't rule out the possibility that the final rear light bar could illuminate in sections, but until the camouflage is removed, we can’t be certain if Tesla chose to stick with the initially seen design of a continuous light bar across the rear.
Performance Testing
Another sighting of the Model Y Juniper was captured on video, featuring the camo-covered prototype navigating through heavy rain, testing its suspension over speed bumps and similar obstacles. The Juniper’s suspension appears to be softer than the current Model Y, which has been a common complaint among owners of Tesla's top-selling vehicle.
The other anticipated upgrades for the Juniper include a larger battery, more efficient motors, and the introduction of a HW4 kit alongside 48V low-voltage and 800V high-voltage systems, similar to the Cybertruck. The 800V powertrain will enable the Juniper refresh to charge approximately 30% quicker compared to the existing Model Y vehicles, especially when using Tesla's newly introduced V4 Superchargers.
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