Shipments Of China-Made Tesla EVs Down By 24% Y-o-Y
The imminent tariffs on Made-in-China EVs by the West seem to have an adverse effect on the production at Tesla Giga Shanghai.
The imminent tariffs on Made-in-China EVs by the West seem to have an adverse effect on the production at Tesla Giga Shanghai.
The Tesla CEO announced via X that the higher range can be unlocked by paying an amount of $1,500 to $2,000. Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to his other company, X, to announce that Tesla Model Y owners can unlock more range by paying $1,500 to $2,000. However, he also clarifies that it will depend on the battery cells your EV has. This means that this unlocking of more range is not across the board. Furthermore, he states the owners can experience a bump in range in the vicinity of 40 to 60 miles (64 to 96 km). Tesla is working through regulatory approvals to enable this. You might also like: 2 in Top 5 Used EVs Come From Tesla as Used Car Industry Grows More Range in Tesla Model Y This announcement came in response to a tweet by Sawyer Merritt which mentions that Tesla has launched a brand new Long Range RWD Model Y variant in the U.S. It has a price tag of $44,990 which can go as low as $37,490 after the Federal EV credit. It offers a range of 320 miles (515 km). For comparison, the outgoing Model Y RWD had 260 miles (418 km) of range. But it has now been discontinued. It looks like Tesla wants to earn some extra bucks by unlocking extra range in the discontinued EVs. A certain Ethan commented on this announcement by saying, “Why not just give it for free?”. To this, Musk replied, “We have to pay the bills tomorrow”. This is in line with what has been happening at Tesla lately. We know that Elon had to fire the entire Supercharger team to cut costs. Charging $1,500 to $2,000 to unlock a feature which is already there in a car is also a step in that very direction. You might also like: Tesla Cars Cheapest To Maintain, Land Rover Most Expensive Learn Electric Cars Says It fascinates me to see how well-equipped Tesla cars already are. The technology is so advanced that even the owners don’t know what their EVs are capable of. Moreover, we already know that Tesla offers a myriad of hardware components which support autonomous driving (called the Autopilot in Tesla’s parlance) well before the technology is available. Being the visionary that Elon is, he has kept the provision for the future in the current cars. Hence, knowing that the existing batteries can offer a surge in range is not that alien afte all.
The largest EV maker on the planet is certainly feeling the heat with increased competition and declining sales in the first quarter. Tesla announced a $2,000 cut in the prices of Model Y, X and S, each in addition to a $4,000 cut in FSD. Note that Tesla was already offering its Fully Self-Driving technology (Level 2+ ADAS) at an offer price of $12,000. To spur the demand further and entice more customers, the Elon Must-led auto giant is now offering it for $8,000. Finally, it will also end the referral program on April 30. This used to offer owners additional incentives if they persuaded their friends or family members to purchase a Tesla car. You might also like: Tesla Eyeing Indian Factory With Capacity Of 500,000 EVs Tesla Model Y, S and X Prices Cut by $2,000 Each After the $2,000 price cut, the Model Y now has a base price of $42,990, its lowest ever. With this, the long-range trim now starts at $47,990 and the performance variant commences at $51,490. It is interesting to note that the Tesla Model Y was the highest-selling EV on the planet last year 2023. Offering discounts on the most popular EV in its lineup indicates how tough the situation is for Tesla. Also, the Model S now retails for $72,990, while the Plaid starts at $87,990. Finally, the base model of Model X starts at $77,990, whereas the Plaid trim has a retail sticker of $92,990. The discounts are not just offered for the US market, but also for the Chinese market. Hence, the largest EV maker in the world is offering benefits to spur demand in two of its biggest markets globally. If that was not enough, last week was particularly testing for Musk’s Tesla. It had to recall 3,900 Cybertrucks due to a faulty acceleration because of the accelerator pedal cover which kept getting stuck in such a position that it was flat to the floor keeping the futuristic electric in perennial acceleration. Not just that, Tesla even had to let go of 10% of its global workforce, and two key executives and sought investor approval for a $56 billion pay package for Elon Musk. All this led to a whopping 40% drop in the share price of Tesla year-to-date. You might also like: Tesla Clocks 6 Million Lifetime Sales, 1 Million In Last 6 Months Learn Electric Cars Says Tesla was the poster boy for the electric mobility revolution across the globe just a decade ago. However, as the industry embraces electrification, new players are emerging. Not just that, the legacy carmakers are putting in valiant efforts to transition to EVs. Amidst all this, Tesla has somehow managed to stay on the top for this long. But offering discounts, running ads, laying the workforce off, etc. are signs that the business is not sustainable just yet. Not to mention, the challenges for the potential customers in the mass adoption of electric cars are still immense. As a result, the current growth in EV sales has been underwhelming, especially when seen in conjunction with the ambitious forecasts. Prime regions including the USA and China are bracing for a slowdown in EV sales this year. One aspect we are intrigued to explore and witness is how well the emerging markets are going to adopt electric cars. That could determine the next wave of electric mobility.
France becomes the only country in the world to offer a Tesla Model Y in a 2-seat configuration. In a truly unique development, Tesla is offering a 2-seat Model Y in France. It is designed to be used as a commercial vehicle. The details of this report emerged from Clément MAGUET on LinkedIn. He is a Senior Account Manager at Tesla, France. This post mentions that France has a fleet of around 6.3 million commercial vehicles at the moment. Most of them still use diesel as the default fuel. You might also like: Which EVs Use Tesla Superchargers? 2-Seat Tesla Model Y In a bid to offer an environment-friendly commercial transportation solution going forward, Tesla France is offering this unorthodox solution. With the rear seats removed, a cavernous 2,158-litre boot space is liberated. Additionally, this model takes the range to 565 km on a single charge. Hence, the most successful EV in the world can be purchased in an all-new avatar to tackle the challenges regarding diesel emissions. This LinkedIn post also mentions that it could be used as an “additional alternative to professional mobility, whether for the transport of goods or as an emergency vehicle”. This model will be exclusively available across the Tesla stores in France. You could visit any of the following locations to experience it: You might also like: $25,000 Tesla Model 2 Imminent with Expansion of Giga Shanghai Reason For 2-Seat Configuration Various nations have specific laws for commercial establishments in order to boost businesses. Similarly, even France offers taxation benefits on commercial vehicles. These include high taxes for cars with four or more seating capacity. In order to avail tax benefits, Tesla will be offering this 2-seat version specifically for commercial players which will help them save thousands of Euros. Not to mention, the popularity and market share of Tesla cars in the country will expand. You might also like: Tesla Model Y Facelift In China By Mid-2024, Other Markets To Follow Learn Electric Cars Says EV makers are adopting all sorts of techniques to boost mass adoption and get electric cars into the homes of most people all across the globe. The range anxiety issue can only be minimized once people actually commence experiencing EVs in the first place. In many parts of the world, while EV sales have risen significantly in comparison to the previous years, the demand has been lower than anticipated. With models like these, there could be a boost in sales. Surprisingly, this is not the first time Tesla has experimented with something like this. Back in 2018, Tesla offered a 2-seat Model S as a utility vehicle in the USA. Therefore, it might be relatively scarce to witness such iterations of prominent automobiles, but carmakers in general, and Tesla in particular, are trying innovative ploys to utilize government subsidies and taxation benefits to popularize EVs. We might see more of such cases in other parts of the world going forward.
Tesla Model Y holds the distinction of being the highest-selling EV on the planet. The Tesla Model Y will receive a significant facelift by the middle of 2024 in China. It is rumoured to carry the codename ‘Project Juniper’. Note that the happenings in the Chinese market often translate to other international markets soon. In fact, the Model Y already received a minor update in the Chinese market earlier this year. In comparison, the upcoming facelift will bear relatively more substantial alterations. You might also like: Mercedes, BMW Exceed EPA Range in Real-World Test, Tesla Falls Short Tesla Model Y Facelift In order to prepare for the facelift, the second phase of Tesla’s Shanghai factory will halt production for a week around the first half of February. That is also the time of the Chinese New Year holiday season. During this time, the manufacturing facility will undergo partial upgrades to incorporate the changes needed to roll out the new Model Y. However, the final upgrades will be made closer to the commencement of the production at a relatively later stage. We already know that Model Y is the highest-selling EV in the world. It has held that title for a while now. Hence, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that even in China, it accounts for close to 75% of total Tesla sales. That is a testament to the relevance of this model. This facelift is aimed at ensuring that the Model Y stays competitive amidst fierce rivals in the Chinese market including BYD, Xpeng and Nio. That also explains why Tesla is in the process of refreshing its entire lineup including the new Model 3 earlier this year under the codename ‘Project Highland’. You might also like: $25,000 Tesla Model 2 Imminent with Expansion of Giga Shanghai Specifics of Facelift While there are no concrete reports regarding the exact details of the changes, we can take some cues from the facelifted Model 3. This will include modifications to the interior, as well as exterior. Hence, we could expect slight design changes to the aesthetics, perhaps the alloys, in addition to some new features inside the cabin. Moreover, it could also get a larger M3P battery from CATL. The Model 3 also received a new blind spot monitor and an active hood for pedestrian protection. After the China launch, these updates will trickle down to the international markets too. We shall keep an eye out for further details in this case.
Polestar 4 was unveiled recently and it promises to challenge the unprecedented dominance of Tesla Model Y in various markets across the world. After the unveiling of the latest EV by the Chinese-owned Swedish car marque, a Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y comparison is warranted. Polestar 4 was unveiled at the ongoing Shanghai Motor Show and looks promising. On the other hand, the Tesla Model Y features among the highest-selling electric coupe SUVs in the world. Based on the popular Model 3, Model Y offers a stylish coupe-SUV silhouette with a perfect blend of affordability, performance and practicality by being a 7-seater. Let us see how well the new Swedish EV measures up against the American giant. You might also like: Hyundai IONIQ 6 vs Kia EV6 – Specs, Price Comparison Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y – Specs Comparison Before we commence, we must mention that Tesla doesn’t disclose all the specs of its EVs and hence, we have taken some data from credible digital automobile media houses. In the most aggressive Performance guise, Model Y has an 80.5 kWh Li-ion battery powering two electric motors for an AWD system producing 450 hp and 639 Nm of peak power and torque. The acceleration from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) takes 3.5 secs and the top speed is limited to 155 mph. It has an EPA-estimated range of 330 miles (531 km) in the Long Range trim and 303 miles (488 km) in the Performance trim. On the other hand, the Polestar 4 is underpinned by the premium Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) developed by Geely Holding (parent company of Volvo and Polestar). In its most aggressive avatar, the Polestar 4 will have a 102 kWh battery powering two electric motors for an AWD system capable of generating a mammoth 544 hp and 686 Nm of peak power and torque. This powertrain will propel the electric coupe SUV from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in just 3.8 secs. The Long Range version will have a WLTP range of 348 miles (560 km). The Long Range single motor version will have a range of up to 600 km (WLTP). Specs Comparison Tesla Model Y Polestar 4 Drivetrain RWD/AWD RWD/AWD Battery 80.5 kWh 102 kWh Range 330 mi (531 km) 348 mi (560 km) Power 450 hp 544 hp Torque 639 Nm 686 Nm DC Fast Charging 250 kW 200 kW Acceleration 3.5 secs (0-60 mph) 3.8 secs (0-62 mph) Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y – Specs You might also like: Top 5 Mini EVs in 2023 – Future of Urban Mobility? Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y – Dimensions Comparison In terms of dimensions, the Polestar 4 has a clear edge over the Tesla Model Y. Model Y measures 4,750 mm in length, 1,921 mm in width, 1,624 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2,890 mm. On the other hand, Polestar 4 has a length of 4,839 mm, a width of 2,139 mm, a height of 1,544 mm and a wheelbase of 2,999 mm. Apart from the height, the latter is quite large in comparison. Dimensions Tesla Model Y Polestar 4 Length 4,750 mm 4,839 mm Width 1,921 mm 2,139 mm Height 1,624 mm 1,544 mm Wheelbase 2,890 mm 2,999 mm Polestar 4 vs Tesla Model Y – Dimensions You might also like: Top Solid-State Battery Companies For EVs Features Comparison Talking about the features and modern tech, both these EVs are filled to the brim. Model Y has a large 15-inch horizontal touchscreen Infotainment System powered by an AMD Ryzen processor that controls all the in-car functions and relays information regarding the powertrain as well, Tesla OS with Smartphone Connectivity, Built-in Dashcam, Animal-Free Interior Materials, HEPA Cabin Air Filter, 13-Speaker Premium Audio System, Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof, and a ton of ADAS features to enhance safety. Polestar 4 also offers impressive amenities including Sustainable Materials for the Interior (Mono-material approach) made from 100% Recycled PET and Animal Welfare-secured Nappa Leather, Glass Roof with Electrochromic Functionality, Camera-based IRVM, a 15.4-inch Landscape Touchscreen, built-in Google Assistant and other Google Apps, 12-Speaker Harman Kardon Audio System with 1,400-Watt channel-hybrid Amplifier, Apple CarPlay, OTA, SuperVision Advanced Driver Assistance System using 12 Cameras, 1 Radar and 12 Ultrasonic Sensors, 10.2-inch Driver’s Instrument Display, 14.7-inch Head-Up Display, Drive Modes and more. You might also like: Tesla to Make PMS Motor Without Rare Earth Elements Price Comparison Polestar 4 will launch in China in November 2023 with production to be held at the 100% renewable electricity-powered Hangzhou Bay Plant in China with plans of launching in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific in early 2024. The indicative starting prices are around US$60,000 or €60,000 or £55,000. On the other hand, the Tesla Model Y costs US$53,990 for the top Performance trim.