Tesla to Start Delivering Revamped Model Y SUV in March
Tesla will begin delivering a revamped version of its Model Y SUV in the US in March, according to listings on the company’s website. The new Model Y Juniper features a redesigned fascia, front and rear light bars, and an upgraded interior with ventilated seats, reclining second-row seats, and faster Wi-Fi. The price tag for the new variant is $59,990, not including a federal tax credit of $7,500 for new electric vehicle purchases.
Tesla started taking orders for the new Model Y variant in Canada and Europe on Thursday and began sales in China about two weeks ago. The company’s CEO, Elon Musk, shared a video on Twitter showing off the new Model Y.
The new Model Y is part of Tesla’s efforts to revitalize its core automotive business, which faces increased competition globally. The company’s last new model, the angular steel Cybertruck, began rolling out to customers at the end of 2023 and became the bestselling electric truck in the US last year. However, sales didn’t make up for a decline in overall deliveries, which fell for the first time in 2024.
Musk has been in the spotlight recently due to his financing of President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign and his position in the newly elected president’s inner circle. Trump has signed an executive order indicating he will likely repeal the federal electric vehicle tax credit, which could have a negative impact on Tesla’s competitors in the EV market.
Before the release of the new Model Y variant, Musk’s political rhetoric and Tesla’s aging lineup had led to a decline in the company’s reputation, according to research from Brand Finance.