New Tesla Model Y Debuts, But Not in Canada: What’s New

Tesla has officially launched its new Model Y in China and Asia-Pacific, introducing a minor design refresh, performance, and tech upgrades. The debut comes after we saw the first leak of the new Model Y without any camouflage (what a coincidence, right?).

While the new Model Y is not available in the US or Canada yet, the redesigned Model Y is rolling out first in China, where it’s manufactured at Tesla’s Giga Shanghai, with deliveries starting in March, with pre-orders open now. The EV market in China is the biggest in the world and the Model Y was the top-selling EV there for 2024.

A new Glacier Blue paint is offered alongside Stealth Grey (included), Pearl White Multi-Coat, Quicksilver, and Ultra Red. As for wheels, we have standard 19-inch Crossflow Wheels, with an upgrade option to 20-inch Helix 2.0 Wheels. No Performance version is available yet.

The redesigned Model Y features a revamped front bumper and taillights, improving aerodynamics and increasing driving range. Updates to the suspension, wheels, and tires provide a smoother and quieter ride, while redesigned body castings reduce gaps and parts, enhancing overall efficiency and noise isolation for a more refined driving experience. These are similar upgrades as we saw in the new Model 3.

There’s now acoustic glass all around for better noise isolation, a new 8-inch rear touchscreen for passengers, ventilated front seats, ambient lighting throughout the cabin, and power rear folding seats (plus power rear seat control buttons on the sides).

The steering wheel looks the same as the new Model 3, but this time around Tesla has brought back a stalk for turn signals, instead of having them as buttons on the steering wheel. Drive stalk controls are now buttons (heck, you won’t need them when your Tesla will soon be driving itself and you’re napping, right?).

There’s also a new front bumper camera to assist Full Self-Driving, while the rear badging says “TESLA”, falling in line with other vehicles in the lineup (aside from Cybertruck).

For the new Launch Series Model Y, you get unique badging on the rear liftgate (similar to Ludicrous), puddle lights, and doorsill plates. The All-wheel drive includes an Acceleration boost upgrade, which means 0-100 km in 4.3 seconds.

As for new Model Y pricing? Let’s take a look at AUD dollars and compare it to Canadian dollars, to give ourselves an idea of what it will cost here.

• Model Y RWD: $63,400 AUD (~$56,234 CAD), with a range of 466 km (WLTP estimate, not EPA), 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds and 9-speaker audio.
• Model Y AWD Long Range: $73,400 AUD (~$65,104 CAD), with a range of 551 km (WLTP estimate) and 16-speaker audio.

To put these prices into perspective, the existing Model Y RWD is $59,990 CAD and Long Range AWD is $63,990 CAD, but qualifies for the $5,000 federal iZEV rebate. Once Tesla’s Fremont factory in California starts ramping up the new Model Y, you can expect it to likely hit the US and Canada later this year.