The Tesla Model Y is the world’s most important electric vehicle (EV). It was the world’s best-selling passenger vehicle for one quarter last year, driven largely by its popularity in China. It finished the year as America’s fifth best-seller and the top-selling EV in its home country.
But it’s due for an update. We expect to see it sometime this year.
Reuters reported last spring that an internal project at Tesla, codenamed Juniper, was developing an updated version of the Model Y.
Tesla has a massive, dedicated online following no other automaker can match. It instantly went to work seeking details.
But because that fanbase is hungry for news, it’s vulnerable to misinformation. That complicates evaluating Project Juniper. Recently, images purporting to show the car circulated on social media before Motor1 pointed out telltale signs they were AI-generated fakes.
Any update is likely to be subtle.
Tesla Doesn’t Do Model Years
Most automakers change their cars slightly every year, allowing dealers to generate interest for updated versions annually — what the industry calls “model years.”
Tesla doesn’t do this.
The company has been known to keep the same basic design, unrefreshed, longer than any competitor would dare. The Model S once went nine years without a cosmetic change.
But it updates technology on the fly constantly. A Tesla built in March and one built in April can have different batteries, different wiring, and even different steering and suspension components without the company acknowledging the change with any model-year-like marketing push.
But Tesla has made a few major styling updates. The most recent may be the biggest hint on what to expect from Juniper.
The Model 3 Highland Is Probably the Best Guide
The Model Y shares much of its architecture with the Model 3. It went through a recent major update with a similar codename during development — Project Highland.
You’ll find people online who call the new version the “Model 3 Highland,” but that’s not a name Tesla markets. It’s just the new Model 3.
It involved subtle changes inside and out. The Model 3 lost a flat-fronted look that caused some to liken it to a snake, such as a viper. It also improved its aerodynamics and gained modest range improvements. Inside, the cabin gets a wraparound dashboard for a more flowing look and a screen for rear-seat passengers.
It lacked major mechanical improvements because Tesla doesn’t wait for a redesign to make those.
Since the Model 3 and the Model Y share so much, similar changes are probably in store for both.
If Project Highland is a useful guide, Americans may also be stuck waiting for the Model Y Juniper. Tesla launched the updated Model 3 in China and Europe last fall. It’s just now bringing the car to America.
China, after all, is Tesla’s most important market. It’s now the country that buys the most cars, the country that buys the most EVs, and the country that exports more cars than any other country.
