JAKARTA - Tesla is reportedly preparing to introduce the Standard Range Model Y or a "frugal" version for the Chinese market. This rumor was strengthened after the vehicle appeared on the Tesla China home charging website last week, before it was finally removed again.
The brief appearance sparked speculation that Tesla was preparing a new variant with a more affordable price tag. The model was presented to face the increasingly fierce competition in the middle price segment.
Other information comes from a Weibo user named Anting Dafa who claimed to have contacted Tesla staff. He said Tesla did plan a lower-priced Model Y and Model 3 variant for the Chinese market.
According to him, the affordable version of the Model 3 is expected to be launched first, followed by the Model Y. The Model Y Standard Range is said to retain almost identical exterior dimensions to the updated Model Y, but carries lower performance specifications.
Quoted from Carnewschina, Wednesday, January 14, the acceleration from 0-100 km/h is claimed to slow down from 5.9 seconds on the rear-wheel drive variant to around 7 seconds on the economical version. The distance traveled also decreased, from 575 kilometers to 517 kilometers based on EPA assessments.
Referring to the hemat variant that is already available in the United States, the Standard Range Model Y will cut or simplify more than 20 features compared to the standard model. The changes mentioned include removing the front light bar, replacing the electric mirror with a manual model, removing the double-layer laminated glass on the window, and replacing the electric seat adjustment with manual control.
The car still has lane-keeping assistance features, but is not equipped with lane centering functions. This simplification shows Tesla's strategy to reduce production costs while targeting consumers in the lower price class, while still relying on the strength of the brand.
If produced in China, CarNewsChina estimates that these affordable models will be marketed in the range of 200,000 yuan or around Rp. 483 million. Tesla's efforts also come amid increasingly aggressive competitive pressures.
In 2025, BYD for the first time surpassed Tesla in pure electric vehicle sales for a full year, with a gap of about 620,000 units. Early January 2026 data shows that BYD sold around 2.26 million pure EVs throughout 2025 or an increase of 27.9 percent, while Tesla recorded global sales of around 1.64 million units or a 9 percent decline.
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