Tesla has rolled out various deals for the Model Y, such as 0% APR financing and no down payment. This move seems aimed not just at boosting Q4 sales figures, but also at encouraging potential buyers who are hesitating, especially with the upcoming Juniper refresh that could be launching soon.
Early Pilot Production
A well-known Chinese auto blogger has suggested that the Model Y Juniper might debut sooner than expected. Reports indicate that Tesla plans to kick off pilot production of a limited batch of Model Y Juniper vehicles at its Gigafactory located in Shanghai as early as this week.
Interestingly, the team at Giga Shanghai recently achieved a production milestone of 3 million vehicles, producing one Tesla every 30 seconds. However, they are said to be making only around 12 Model Y Juniper units daily. This limited output suggests that it is indeed a trial production phase, similar to what Tesla did with the Model 3 Highland refresh, which began its pilot production in small quantities a few months prior to its official launch to refine the mass manufacturing process.
Comparison to Model 3 Highland
The Model 3 Highland, which is reported to influence the front design of the Model Y Juniper, started its pilot manufacturing last August at Giga Shanghai. Tesla officially launched it in China by the end of October, and it was announced for the US in January. Therefore, even if these rumors are true, we are likely several months away from the actual Juniper launch.
To keep the design specifics under wraps until the official reveal, workers at the Gigafactory who are assembling the test batches of Model Y Juniper have reportedly been prohibited from bringing phones onto the site. We've caught glimpses of what appears to be a new rear light bar, but the rest of the vehicle has been camouflaged, possibly spotted during testing in the US and Europe. This follows the same strategy Tesla employed while preparing for the Highland release.
Speculations on Features
As for the precise specifications of the Model Y Juniper, they remain uncertain. However, it is rumored to include a robust 95 kWh battery and an 800V powertrain architecture for quicker charging capabilities. There may also be a 48V low-voltage system similar to that of the Cybertruck, as Tesla has open-sourced its efforts in this area and mentioned it will be used even in its more affordable models like the Robotaxi or the future Model 2. Additionally, the Model Y Juniper is expected to feature a touchless frunk opening and a 6-seater variant for the Chinese market, which is presumably what Tesla is currently testing in their pilot production.
FatTigerShawn (Weibo) via CarNewsChina
