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Like it or not, the new Tesla Model Y is a big hit in China

The new Model Y’s registrations are picking up once more in China, with numbers rising 77.5% in the week ending April 27.

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Credit: Tesla China

It’s interesting to see that even after Tesla successfully changed over Gigafactory Shanghai to the new Model Y, reports still emerged earlier this month suggesting that the demand for the revamped, all-electric crossover may already be over.

Videos from China, as well as the trend in Tesla’s new vehicle registrations, suggest that the demand for the new Model Y in the country is alive and well. 

Why Did Registrations Drop In April?

Arguments that the new Model Y was already running out of steam in China are partly based on the vehicle’s sudden drop in registrations in April. This, as well as the fact that Tesla China still estimates just 2-5 weeks of waiting time for new Model Y orders, was interpreted as a demand issue by Tesla skeptics.

What is quite surprising is that skeptics still seem to be intentionally ignoring the idea that Giga Shanghai allocates a lot of its vehicle output to foreign territories early on in the quarter. Thus, when Q1 ended and Q2 began, it only made sense that domestic vehicle registrations for the new Model Y dropped. One should not forget, after all, that Giga Shanghai supplies vehicles to numerous territories outside China.

Model Y Registrations and Delivery Centers

The new Model Y’s registrations are picking up once more in China, with numbers rising 77.5% in the week ending April 27. This suggests that Tesla China may be allocating more of Gigafactory Shanghai’s output to the domestic market once more. This also suggests that the new Model Y is seeing quite a bit of interest among Chinese consumers. The new Model Y, at least based on the trend of Tesla China’s registrations, definitely does not seem to be losing steam anytime soon.

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A video that highlights this argument was shared recently on social media by Tesla China watcher @GeekLaii, who paid a visit to the company’s delivery center at Crab Island in Beijing. As could be seen in the video, the delivery center is packed with new Model Ys waiting for delivery. Consumers seem to be opting for the vehicle’s mid-tier variant as well, as the majority of the cars at the delivery center were comprised of new Model Y Long Range All Wheel Drive (AWD) variants.

Q1 Model Y Sales

In the first quarter, the Tesla Model Y was China’s best-selling SUV. That’s pretty impressive considering that the vehicle was limited to inventory units in the first months of the quarter. Despite this, the Model Y still sold 81,889 units in Q1 2025, putting it at the top of China’s SUV rankings. The new Model Y’s sales this Q2 might even be better.

Longtime Tesla investors have always argued that it is never wise to underestimate or bet against Elon Musk. At the same time, it is becoming evident that it is also not wise to underestimate or bet against Tesla’s best-selling car to date.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Tesla Semi just got a huge vote of confidence from 300-truck fleet

The confidential meeting marks a major step for the mid-sized carrier in evaluating the electric truck for its regional routes.

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Credit: Tesla

The Tesla Semi is moving closer to broader fleet adoption, with Keller Logistics Group wrapping up a key pre-production planning session with the electric vehicle maker’s team this week. 

The confidential meeting marks a major step for the mid-sized carrier in evaluating the electric truck for its regional routes.

Keller’s pre-production Tesla Semi sessions

Keller Logistics Group, a family-owned carrier with over 300 tractors and 1,000 trailers operating in the Midwest and Southeast, completed the session to assess the Tesla Semi’s fit for its operations. The company’s routes typically span 500-600 miles per day, positioning it as an ideal tester for the Semi’s day cab configuration in standard logistics scenarios. 

Details remain under mutual NDA, but the meeting reportedly focused on matching the truck to yard, shuttle and regional applications while scrutinizing economics like infrastructure, maintenance and incentives.

What Keller’s executives are saying

CEO Bryan Keller described the approach as methodical. “For us, staying ahead isn’t a headline, it’s a habit. From electrification and yard automation to digital visibility and warehouse technology, our teams are continually pressure-testing what’s next. The Tesla Semi discussion is one more way we evaluate new tools against our standards for safety, uptime, and customer ROI. We don’t chase trends, we pressure-test what works,” Keller said. 

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Benjamin Pierce, Chief Strategy Officer, echoed these sentiments. “Electrification and next-generation powertrains are part of a much broader transformation. Whether it’s proprietary yard systems like YardLink™, solar and renewable logistics solutions, or real-time vehicle intelligence, Keller’s approach stays the same, test it, prove it, and deploy it only when it strengthens service and total cost for our customers,” Pierce said. 

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Tesla extends FSD Supervised ride-alongs in Europe by three months

Needless to say, it does appear that FSD fever is starting to catch in Europe. 

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Credit: Grok Imagine

Tesla appears to be doubling down on its European Full Self-Driving (Supervised) push, with the company extending its demo ride-along program by three months until the end of March 2026. The update seems to have been implemented due to overwhelming demand. 

Needless to say, it does appear that FSD fever is starting to catch in Europe. 

Extended FSD demonstrations

Tesla EU Policy and Business Development Manager Ivan Komušanac shared on LinkedIn that the company is offering ride-along experiences in Germany, France and Italy while working toward FSD (Supervised) approval in Europe.

He noted that this provides a great feedback opportunity from the general public, encouraging participants to record and share their experiences. For those unable to book in December, Komušanac teased more slots as “Christmas presents.”

Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt highlighted the extension on X, stating that dates now run from December 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, in multiple cities including Stuttgart-Weinstadt, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf in Germany. This suggests that the FSD ride-along program in Europe has officially been extended until the end of the first quarter of 2026. 

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Building momentum for European approval

Replies to Merritt’s posts buzzed with excitement, with users like @AuzyMale noting that Cologne and Düsseldorf are already fully booked. This sentiment was echoed by numerous other Tesla enthusiasts on social media. Calls for the program’s expansion to other European territories have also started gaining steam, with some X users suggesting Switzerland and Finland as the next locations for FSD ride-alongs.

Ultimately, the Tesla EU Policy and Business Development Manager’s post aligns with the company’s broader FSD efforts in Europe. As per recent reports, Tesla recently demonstrated FSD’s capabilities for Rome officials. Reporters from media outlets in France and Germany have also published positive reviews of FSD’s capabilities on real-world roads. 

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Tesla’s six-seat extended wheelbase Model Y L sold out for January 2026

Estimated delivery dates for new Tesla Model Y L orders now extend all the way into February 2026.

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Credit: Tesla China

The Tesla Model Y L seems to be in high demand in China, with estimated delivery dates for new orders now extending all the way into February 2026. 

This suggests that the Model Y L has been officially sold out from the rest of 2025 to January 2026. 

Model Y L estimated delivery dates

The Model Y L’s updated delivery dates mark an extension from the vehicle’s previous 4-8 week estimated wait time. A detailed chart shared by Tesla data tracker @Tslachan on X shows the progressions of the Model Y L’s estimated delivery dates since its launch earlier this year. 

Following its launch in September, the vehicle was given an initial October 2025 estimated delivery date. The wait times for the vehicle were continually updated over the years, until the middle of November, when the Model Y L had an estimated delivery date of 4-8 weeks. This remained until now, when Tesla China simply listed February 2026 as the estimated delivery date for new Model Y L orders.

Model Y demand in China

Tesla Model Y demand in China seems to be very healthy, even beyond the Model Y L. New delivery dates show the company has already sold out its allocation of the all-electric crossover for 2025. The Model Y has been the most popular vehicle in the world in both of the last two years, outpacing incredibly popular vehicles like the Toyota RAV4. In China, the EV market is substantially more saturated, with more competitors than in any other market.

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Tesla has been particularly kind to the Chinese market, as it has launched trim levels for the Model Y in the country that are not available anywhere else, such as the Model Y L. Demand has been strong for the Model Y in China, with the vehicle ranking among the country’s top 5 New Energy Vehicles. Interestingly enough, vehicles that beat the Model Y in volume like the BYD Seagull are notably more affordable. Compared to vehicles that are comparably priced, the Model Y remains a strong seller in China. 

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