Exclusive-Tesla readies revamp of Model Y codenamed 'Juniper' - sources
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[March 01, 2023] SHANGHAI/SAN
FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tesla is readying a production revamp of its
top-selling Model Y, according to three people with knowledge of the
plan.
The changes to the Model Y – code-named Project Juniper at Tesla -
involve the exterior and interior of the crossover electric vehicle with
a target of starting production in 2024, according to two of the people,
who asked not to be identified because the planning remains private.
A revamp of the Model Y would mean Tesla is on track to offer new
versions of its top-selling models over the next two years, addressing
pressure in markets like China and the United States for a visible
reboot of its best-selling vehicles in the face of increasing options
for EV buyers.
The automaker has not commented on its product strategy or any planned
model changes. Tesla did not immediately comment when asked by Reuters
about the plans for the Model Y, which was its best seller in
California, China and Europe last year.
Chief Executive Elon Musk has said he will discuss the third part of the
EV maker's "Master Plan" when the company holds an investor day event
later on Wednesday.
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Tesla has already been working to retool its Shanghai assembly plant to
prepare for a revamped version of its Model 3 sedan, a project codenamed
Highland by Tesla, Reuters has reported.
The Highland version of the Model 3 is expected to go into production in
Shanghai in September, according to a person with knowledge of the
matter.
With Highland, Tesla is aiming to cut production costs and boost the
appeal of an electric sedan that first went on sale in 2017, people
involved in the project have said. There will also be changes to the
exterior and powertrain performance with a focus on production
efficiency, they said.
Tesla has separately asked suppliers for quotes for a revamped version
of the Project Juniper version of the Model Y for exterior and interior
components that would go into production next year, two of the people
said.
The projected start of production is October 2024, according to one of
the people.
It was not immediately clear how sweeping the revamp would be or what
specific changes or improvements Tesla was looking to deliver with the
new Model Y.
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![](../images/030123PIX/busine60.jpg)
Visitors wearing face masks check a
China-made Tesla Model Y sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the electric
vehicle maker's showroom in Beijing, China January 5, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu
Wang/File Photo
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At the investor day event scheduled to be held at its Gigafactory in
Texas on Wednesday, Tesla has said it will share details about its
next-generation vehicle platforms, which Musk has said would produce
a vehicle about half the cost of Tesla's current vehicle
underpinings.
Tesla also said it will discuss long-term expansion plans, capital
allocation and other subjects.
The leading EV maker has faced increasing competitive pressure in
China, its second largest market behind the United States, even
after it cut prices.
Analysts have said that is in part because it has been seen as
lagging competitors in introducing new models, improved navigation
or luxe interior touches that car shoppers in the world's largest EV
market are seeking.
A revamp of the Model Y, first delivered to customers in 2020, would
mean production and supply changes for a car now in production in
all of Tesla's major hubs: the United States, China and Germany.
In contrast to legacy automakers, which have tended to make
incremental model-year changes to cars before introducing an all-new
version, Tesla has pressed the pace of change in its electric
vehicles.
Tesla has made frequent changes to its electric vehicles through
software updates and sometimes through hardware changes to add
features, improve performance or reduce production costs, analysts
have said.
In one example, Tesla announced on Wednesday it had made changes in
the suspension system on the Model Y made in China since January to
make the ride smoother, an update Tesla fans applauded on social
media.
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Tesla's plant near Berlin hit a new production record equivalent to
annual output of over 200,000 Model Ys earlier this week, the
company said. That was three weeks ahead of an internal production
target reviewed by Reuters.
(Reporting by Zhang Yan in Shanghai and Hyunjoo Jin in San
Francisco, editing by Kevin Krolicki)
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