Tesla is no longer covering the vehicles in Giga Texas it is making and we can see some features of these vehicles that give clues to what kind of Model Y Tesla may be making.
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What New Vehicle is Tesla Making?
Tesla appears to be making some new variants of vehicles in the lines in Giga Texas based on new registrations with the EPA. Texas Model Y's appear to have a range of 279 miles at a standard range.
We know Tesla is making cars in Giga Texas now because we can see them plugged in and in the car park just sitting there. The covers used to be on the cars, but they are off now. We are able to see photos of the new Model Y's in the Giga Texas facility.
With being able to see the Model Y's, let's compare to other Tesla's. At a glance, they look very similar. What is one thing that is distinguishable? The wheels are different. The Giga Texas wheels are less dark and more chrome, and have 7 spokes. The Chinese standard range Model Y has these same wheels. The performance Model Y does not have these wheels.
The Chinese standard Model Y has an upgrade options for 20 inch wheels as well and perhaps Giga Texas will also have this as an option. But so far, it looks like the Giga Texas wheels have the standard 19 inch wheels. You can edit long range Model Y vehicles to downgrade the wheels to this option.
What Will Tesla Sell?
The 4680 batteries would work well with the performance Model Y vehicles. But performance vehicles will not be enough to support orders and supply from Giga Texas. If this is a long range Model Y, why are they using the standard range wheels? Wouldn't they want to start with the 20 inch wheels?
One can take a Model Y delivery by September, 2022 with the current wait list. If Giga Texas can make the Model Y and do it for the current price of $62,000, will Giga Texas be able to make 5 times as many and will there still be enough demand for the much larger number of cars?
The way to look at this is that Giga Texas will likely make a standard range Model Y and sell it for around $54,000. This is about $8,000 less than the long range Model Y and puts the vehicle in a much more affordable price range for anyone wanting it. With 279 miles of range, you are at about 50 miles less than the long range. And the batteries may be LFP batteries, allowing for full charge.
The cars in Giga Texas may also have different base colors, allowing for greater variety. Tesla could produce a lot more vehicles from Giga Texas and can sell at a less profitable margin, in order to get to first mover advantage and close to more vehicles needed for Tesla FSD to be good enough for robotaxis.
We'll know pretty soon after first deliveries if these cars have the 4680 batteries and if they are standard range Model Y's or not. Let's wait and see soon for these answers!
Will Tesla's new vehicle be a Model Y standard range? Will this video come from Giga Texas? How much will it cost?
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Jeremy Johnson is a Tesla investor and supporter. He first invested in Tesla in 2017 after years of following Elon Musk and admiring his work ethic and intelligence. Since then, he's become a Tesla bull, covering anything about Tesla he can find, while also dabbling in other electric vehicle companies. Jeremy covers Tesla developments at Torque News. You can follow him on Twitter or LinkedIn to stay in touch and follow his Tesla news coverage on Torque News.
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OMG this article could not be
OMG this article could not be farther off base.
1. EVERY Model Y on the lot outside Austin is a MYLR. How do we know? None of the brake calipers is RED. On MYP, all are red. No such on the Austin lot.
2. Virtually EVERY Model Y except a very few have Gemini wheel covers.
Those that don't, maybe 4-5, have 20" black wheels. All standard MYLR options. There's nothing special or 'China' about any of this.
Gemini wheels without wheel covers are 7 split-spoke style.
Or doesn't Mr Johnson, who we're told is a fabled Tesla investor, know that?
The only questions remaining regarding what flavor the MY cars on the lot are, is whether they're Std Range AWD or Long Range, and whether they're LFP or 4680 battery packs.
MY bet is they're 4680 MYLR, and that Fremont will make the LFP-based MY SR.