On September 3rd, market news reported that Tesla plans to start producing a six seater version of the Model Y domestically by the end of 2025. Tesla China responded to this by stating that it is "false information".
Just recently at the end of August, there were reports that Tesla planned to launch a seven seater version of the Model Y produced in China and Europe in October this year. Currently, the Shanghai Gigafactory has started producing this model. On August 29th, Tesla China responded that there are currently no plans to launch related models domestically. Meanwhile, the claim that the Shanghai Gigafactory has produced a seven seater version of the Model Y is false news.
According to previous media reports, Tesla plans to deliver two facelifted Model Y models next year. Among them, the 5-seater version of the refreshed Model Y is expected to be delivered in the first quarter; The other one is the 7-seater version of Model Y, expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter. However, the progress of the facelift Model Y is significantly behind Tesla's previous plans. According to the plan, both cars should be delivered this year.
There are constant rumors about Tesla Model Y producing different versions, which may be related to Tesla's urgent need to boost its performance. Since 2024, Tesla has faced significant pressure in its automotive business. According to Tesla's Q2 2024 financial report, the company's core automotive business revenue for the period reached $19.878 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 7%; Throughout the second quarter, Tesla only delivered 444000 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 4.8%. Meanwhile, Tesla's net profit for the second quarter plummeted 45% year-on-year to $1.478 billion, far below market expectations.
On the other hand, Tesla is also facing significant market competition pressure. Since Ideal Auto opened up the "dad car" market through the 6-seater model Ideal ONE, 6-seater new energy SUVs have almost become a unique hot selling segment in China. At present, car companies such as Ideal, BYD, Wenjie, and NIO have launched related models. These models are more focused on comfort than the Model Y, and they are generally equipped with massage seats with heating and ventilation functions.
Recently, Tesla's performance in some markets has also been inferior to other brands. For example, in July, BMW Group surpassed Tesla for the first time in the European market with strong sales performance of its iX1, i4, i5, iX2 and other electric vehicles, ending Tesla's leading position since Model Y entered the European market in 2020. According to data from consulting firm Jato Dynamics, Tesla's sales in EU countries in July were 14561 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 16%.
Focusing on the Chinese market, Tesla's sales have also experienced fluctuations this year. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Tesla's wholesale sales in China in June this year were 71000 units, a decrease of 2.1% month on month and 24.2% year-on-year. To further boost sales, Tesla has launched multiple rounds of "promotional" policies in the Chinese market, including zero down payment for car purchases and zero interest for 5 years.
After multiple rounds of price reduction and promotion measures, Tesla's domestic sales have shown a trend of recovery in recent months. On August 2nd, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers released data showing that Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory delivered 74117 vehicles in July, an increase of 15% year-on-year.