Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
Tesla unveiled on Thursday the highly anticipated refreshed Model Y. The model will start being delivered in the Chinese market in March with prices starting at 263,500 yuan ($35,900).
The new version brings a better range (+3%), a larger display, a new suspension, a peak charging rate of 250 kW and a slightly lower drag coefficient of 0.22.
The founder and CEO of Xiaomi, China’s tech giant which entered into the EV industry in early 2024 with the launch of the SU7 sedan, commented on the Model Y launch and described the Model Y as “also a good choice” for consumers who cannot wait for Xiaomi’s upcoming SUV.
On the Chinese social media platform WeChat, Tesla announced the refreshed Model Y, with the tagline, “Updated Model Y, (you can) compare anyway.” Lei Jun replied succinctly on Weibo stating, “Okay.”
Shortly after, the executive shared a picture of Xiaomi’s upcoming SUV, which will rival the Model Y in the Chinese market, and wrote, “For those considering buying an SUV, if it’s not urgent, you can wait… .”
Answered to a comment under the post, Xiaomi’s founder named Tesla Model Y “also a good choice,” for buyers who cannot wait until the company starts delivering its SUV in June/ July.
“If it’s particularly urgent and you can’t wait for the Xiaomi YU7, the Tesla Model Y is also a good choice,” Jun said.
Last month, Xiaomi made a filing for a dual-motor version of the YU7. Its launch is expected to be in June or July.
Earlier this Friday, Xiaomi’s single-motor variant, equipped with BYD’s LFP batteries, appeared in the latest catalog released by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Meanwhile, the dual-motor version, filed last month, is listed with lithium-ion ternary batteries supplied by CATL.
Tesla delivered 495,570 vehicles in the last quarter of 2024, setting a new record. Despite the new quarterly high, Tesla’s 2024 deliveries stood at 1,789,226, down 1% from the 1.81 million units delivered in 2023.
Written by Cláudio Afonso | LinkedIn | X
