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Tesla China’s Gigafactory Shanghai-produced Model Y poised for imminent launch
Tesla China may have hit its pace with the ramp of the Model 3, but the company is still yet to release what could very well be its most disruptive vehicle yet, the Model Y crossover. But if recent sightings and local reports are any indication, it appears that the Made-in-China Model Y’s local launch may be imminent.
As noted in a report from the South China Morning Post, a Model Y test unit was recently spotted being transported in a highway in Yancheng, Jiangsu province. The vehicle, which appeared to have a camouflage wrap, was later confirmed to have been produced at Gigafactory Shanghai by two industry officials who were reportedly familiar with the electric car maker’s local operations. This suggests that while construction in Giga Shanghai’s Phase 2 area is ongoing, a pilot line for Model Y production is already operational, at least to some degree.
The presence of a locally-produced Model Y test unit in China is a notable update for Tesla and its efforts to bring the all-electric crossover to the local market. The company, after all, is expected to start producing and delivering the vehicle en masse to local customers by the first quarter of 2021. Considering that sample vehicles are now being produced from Gigafactory Shanghai, there seems to be a good chance that initial Model Y deliveries, perhaps to local employees, may be possible by the end of the year.
Tesla China actually accomplished a similar feat last year, when the first phase of Gigafactory Shanghai was under construction. Back then, images of Made-in-China Model 3 in trial assembly lines started emerging in the third quarter, and by Q4 2019, the company was already in the process of preparing the all-electric sedan for consumer release. Before the end of 2019, Tesla China was able to conduct a handover ceremony for the locally-made Model 3s, though the vehicles were for the company’s employees. A launch of the vehicle to local customers was conducted in early 2020.
Gao Shen, a Shanghai-based independent analyst covering the manufacturing sector, noted in a statement that the Model Y may very well be a successful vehicle in China, especially since its sibling, the Model 3 sedan, has been received warmly by the local market. In June alone, Tesla China delivered 14,954 Model 3, representing 23% of the country’s total sales of pure electric cars, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association. The competition was not close, either, as BYD, in second place, only sold 4,106 units of its EV3.
“Based on its prices, Model Y is set to grab share from the existing domestic premium electric vehicle builders. The new Model Y will be a stern challenge to the Chinese rivals,” Shen said.
Tesla has opened Model Y reservations in China in June, pricing the Long Range version at 488,000 yuan (US$71,200) and the Performance version at 535,000 yuan (US$78,400). These prices place the Model Y among the country’s premium electric vehicles, though Tesla has noted that the cost of its vehicles in China may very well experience reductions due to the increasing use of materials from local suppliers. The vehicle is also expected to qualify for a 25,000 yuan (US$3,600) government subsidy, making the Model Y even more attractive to local customers.
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Tesla FSD (Supervised) could be approved in the Netherlands next month: Musk
Musk shared the update during a recent interview at Giga Berlin.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared that Full Self-Driving (FSD) could receive regulatory approval in the Netherlands as soon as March 20, potentially marking a major step forward for Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance rollout in Europe.
Musk shared the update during a recent interview at Giga Berlin, noting that the date was provided by local authorities.
“Tesla has the most advanced real-world AI, and hopefully, it will be approved soon in Europe. We’re told by the authorities that March 20th, it’ll be approved in the Netherlands,’ what I was told,” Musk stated.
“Hopefully, that date remains the same. But I think people in Europe are going to be pretty blown away by how good the Tesla car AI is in being able to drive.”
Tesla’s FSD system relies on vision-based neural networks trained on real-world driving data, allowing vehicles to navigate using cameras and AI rather than traditional sensor-heavy solutions.
The performance of FSD Supervised has so far been impressive. As per Tesla’s safety report, Full Self-Driving Supervised has already traveled 8.3 billion miles. So far, vehicles operating with FSD Supervised engaged recorded one major collision every 5,300,676 miles.
In comparison, Teslas driven manually with Active Safety systems recorded one major collision every 2,175,763 miles, while Teslas driven manually without Active Safety recorded one major collision every 855,132 miles. The U.S. average during the same period was one major collision every 660,164 miles.
If approval is granted on March 20, the Netherlands could become the first European market to greenlight Tesla’s latest supervised FSD (Supervised) software under updated regulatory frameworks. Tesla has been working to secure expanded FSD access across Europe, where regulatory standards differ significantly from those in the United States. Approval in the Netherlands would likely serve as a foundation for broader EU adoption, though additional country-level clearances may still be required.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” Musk said.
Tesla is preparing to expand its all-electric Semi truck program to Europe, with CEO Elon Musk indicating that the Class 8 vehicle could arrive in the region 2027.
Musk shared his update during an interview about Giga Berlin with plant manager André Thierig, which was posted on X by the official Tesla Manufacturing account.
“We’ve got the Tesla Semi coming out, the heavy truck, and that’ll be going to Europe hopefully next year,” he said.
Tesla has already begun limited production and customer deployments of the Tesla Semi in the United States, with the company working to scale output through the Semi factory near Giga Nevada. Considering Musk’s comments, it appears that a European rollout would be the next phase of the vehicle’s expansion beyond North America.
Musk’s use of the word “hopefully” leaves room for flexibility, but the remark signals that Europe is next in Tesla’s commercial expansion plans.
Musk has consistently argued that electrification should extend beyond passenger vehicles. During the same interview, he reiterated his view that “all ground transport should be electric,” adding that ships, and eventually aircraft, would follow.
The Semi plays a central role in that strategy. Heavy-duty freight remains one of the most emissions-intensive segments of road transport, and European regulators have increasingly pushed for lower-emission commercial fleets.
Tesla recently refreshed the Semi lineup on its official website, listing two variants: Standard and Long Range. The Standard trim offers up to 325 miles of range with an energy consumption rating of 1.7 kWh per mile, while the Long Range version provides up to 500 miles, which should be more than ample for European routes.
Elon Musk
Tesla Cybercab coming next to Giga Berlin, Optimus possibly after
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said.
Tesla could add the Cybercab and Optimus humanoid robot to the production lineup at Giga Berlin, as per recent comments from CEO Elon Musk.
During a recent interview with Giga Berlin plant manager André Thierig, Musk identified the Cybercab as the most likely next major product for the German factory, with Optimus potentially following after.
“From a next major product standpoint, I think most likely is the Tesla Cybercab,” Musk said. He added that there are also “possibilities of Tesla Optimus” being produced in the facility.
Tesla has already begun production of the Cybercab in Giga Texas, with volume production expected to ramp this year. Based on Musk’s comments, it appears that if conditions align in Europe, Giga Berlin could eventually join that effort.
The CEO’s comments about Optimus coming to Gigafactory Berlin are quite unsurprising too considering that Musk has mentioned in the past that the humanoid robot will likely be Tesla’s highest volume product in the long run.
Giga Berlin will likely be able to produce mass volumes of Optimus, as the Model S and Model X lines being converted to an Optimus line in the Fremont Factory are already expected to produce 1 million units of the humanoid robot annually.
Apart from his comments about the Cybercab and Optimus, Elon Musk also confirmed that Giga Berlin has started ramping battery cell production and will continue expanding Model Y output, particularly as supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) gains regulatory approvals in Europe.
Taken together, the remarks suggest Berlin’s role could evolve beyond vehicle assembly into a broader multi-product manufacturing hub, not just a regional Model Y plant.
Tesla FSD (Supervised) could be approved in the Netherlands next month: Musk
Elon Musk estimates Tesla Semi could reach Europe next year
