2024 Tesla Model Y updated in China, unconfirmed for Australia

The Tesla Model Y electric SUV has received a minor refresh in China – but the changes are not yet confirmed for Australia.

The world’s best-selling electric car brings some new features from the facelifted Model 3 sedan – due in Australia early next year – but also carries over previous features.

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Exterior tweaks

The front lower bumper intake appears to be more prominent, while darker 19-inch ‘Gemini’ aerodynamic wheel covers are now standard.

However, the head- and tail-lights, optional 20-inch ‘Induction’ wheels, and the flagship Performance's 21-inch 'Überturbine' alloys are unchanged.

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Fresher interior

The new Model Y introduces an updated dashboard with a fabric-like material (previously a faux wood trim) and a colour-selectable ambient lighting strip.

Unlike the facelifted Model 3 electric sedan, the dash piece is still angled toward occupants, while the ambient light is placed lower and doesn’t extend along the windscreen and into the front and rear doors.

The optional white and black interior no longer changes the dashboard material.

Also notably unchanged is the steering wheel – which still offers indicator and drive selector stalks – the centre console layout, and identical 15.0-inch central touchscreen. It also doesn't bring a rear passenger display.

For context, the related 2024 Model 3 has a brighter and larger 15.4-inch unit with slimmer bezels.

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Improved range and power

Under the unrealistic China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC), the base Model Y RWD has gained nine kilometres more claimed driving range, while the mid-pack Long Range is up 28km.

For context, the current Model Y RWD offers 455km claimed range, Long Range at up to 533km, and the Performance is rated at up to 514km on the stricter Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Test Procedure (WLTP).

The updated Model Y RWD is also one-second faster in the 0-100km/h acceleration time, with all variants being up to two kilograms heavier.

Therefore, it’s likely that the battery packs are unchanged as per the facelifted Model 3.

This means a 57.7kWh usable (60kWh gross) lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery on the RWD and a 75kWh usable (78.1kWh gross) nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion type battery on the Long Range and Performance, according to figures provided by EV Database [↗].

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Will the new 2024 Model Y launch in Australia?

The updated 2024 Tesla Model Y is now available to order in China, with deliveries estimated to start later this month or in November.

Prices across the three-model line-up are unchanged in China, too.

Australian-bound Model Y examples are produced in Tesla’s Shanghai, China factory, but the update is still to be announced for local examples.

Previous reports indicated the Model Y would be updated late next year, under the internal codename project ‘Juniper’.