- The facelifted Model Y has entered a catalog in China with a reduced purchase tax, completing the full regulatory process.
- The Model Y is facing more competition, with one potentially strong rival being the Xiaomi YU7.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) will begin deliveries of the facelifted Model Y in China later this month, earlier than the previous March date, after the model completes regulatory approval.
An update to the US electric vehicle (EV) maker's China website today shows that deliveries of the facelifted Model Y will begin in late February, with the Launch Series currently on sale for a limited time until February 28, as previously.
Tesla launched the facelifted five-seat Model Y in China on January 10 and began offering two variants it calls the Launch Series.
Previous information on Tesla's China website showed that deliveries of the facelifted Model Y were expected to begin in March, pending regulatory approval.
Later on January 10, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released a new catalog of models that would be allowed to be sold for public comment, and the facelifted Model Y was included.
Yesterday, the MIIT released three new documents, and the Tesla Model Y was included in a catalog of models eligible for purchase tax reductions, meaning the model completes the full regulatory process for sales in China.
Like the January 10 regulatory information, yesterday's new catalog features three product models for the Tesla Model Y, the TSL6480BEVAR5, TSL6480BEVAR6, and TSL6480BEVBA7.
The first two are equipped with a battery pack with a capacity of 62.5 kWh, capable of delivering a CLTC range of 559 km or 593 km. The TSL6480BEVBA7 is equipped with a battery pack with a capacity of 78.4 kWh, capable of delivering a CLTC range of 662 km or 719 km.
Last month's filing showed that the TSL6480BEVAR5 and TSL6480BEVAR6 are both single-motor models powered by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries supplied by CATL.
The TSL6480BEVBA7 is a dual-motor model powered by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries supplied by LG Energy Solution of South Korea.
The Model Y Launch Series is currently available in China in two variants, including a rear-wheel drive version with a starting price of RMB 263,500 ($36,280) and a long-range all-wheel drive version with a starting price of RMB 303,500.
The Model Y previously available in China had three variants -- a rear-wheel drive version, a long-range all-wheel drive version, and an all-wheel drive performance version -- with starting prices of RMB 249,900, RMB 290,900, and RMB 354,900, respectively.
The launch of the revamped Tesla Model Y comes at a time when the SUV (sport utility vehicle) model is facing tougher competition in China, with one potentially strong rival being Xiaomi's (HKG: 1810, OTCMKTS: XIACY) YU7.
Xiaomi filed for a dual-motor version for the YU7 on December 9 last year, and a single-motor version on January 10.
Both versions of the Xiaomi YU7 are also included in MIIT's catalog yesterday, showing it has a CLTC range of up to 820 km.
($1 = RMB 7.2639)
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