A refreshed Tesla Model Y was spotted over the weekend, but that does not necessarily mean it will come out anytime soon.
We reported on the sighting of a potential Model Y refresh, known as “Project Juniper,” this past weekend. However, although it could potentially be an early rendition of what Tesla could do to bring a new look and new features to its most popular car, it will take some time for it to hit production lines and make it to the public.
Credit: u/JackIJack | Reddit
In June 2022, Tesla started preparing its Fremont Factory for upgraded production lines that would allow the plant to begin producing the Model 3 Highland.
It took over 18 months for the vehicle to arrive in U.S. showrooms, mostly because of its new features, line upgrades at various factories, and Tesla’s prioritization of the Cybertruck.
Yet, here we are once again. The Model Y is likely due for a slightly new look and some more refined features, and it could pay off in the long run as it has already overtaken every vehicle on Earth in terms of global sales. Last year, it was the best-selling vehicle in the world.
Why We Won’t See the Model Y Refresh Anytime Soon
There are a few reasons why the public won’t be able to buy this vehicle anytime soon.
Robotaxi and Next-Gen Platform are Priority
Initially, Tesla is preparing for its August 8 unveiling of the Robotaxi, which will be its main focus as the automaker has already admitted its priority is the next-generation platform.
Tesla’s main goal for the next few years will be to develop this platform, initiating its next phase of growth as a company. A lot has been made of its delivery numbers this year, which do not seem like they will outpace the figures it reported in 2023.
Tesla reports Q2 delivery and production figures, beating estimates
However, Tesla is not concerned about this. It admitted that its growth rate would be lower over the duration of the next-gen platform’s development.
Once the Robotaxi and another mass-market vehicle are created, which should be offered at a price point below $30,000, Tesla will see those delivery numbers go up.
The Model Y will still perform well, and it’s still a desirable vehicle. There is no reason to prioritize a refresh for it at this juncture, especially because the difference in sales will be relatively small.
Tesla has already said it’s not coming this year
Tesla is not the best at managing timelines, and anyone who has followed the company for any length of time knows that.
With that being said, CEO Elon Musk has already confirmed the Model Y refresh is not coming this year. However, that does indirectly confirm it is coming eventually.
Musk reiterates that Model Y refresh is not coming this year
Musk mentioned that there are constant improvements every six months when he said this, but this does not necessarily include vast cosmetic differences. From a visual standpoint, it’s the same.
So if not now, when?
It’s safe to assume that 2026 would be a good guess for the Model Y Juniper. Basing this off of the prioritization of Robotaxi and the next-gen platform, along with what the Model 3 Highland went through from start to finish, it would be best to expect it after 2025.
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Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units
Tesla is ramping its real-world tests of the Cybercab, with multiple sightings of the vehicle being reported across social media this week.
Tesla is ramping its real-world tests of the Cybercab, with multiple sightings of the autonomous two-seater being reported across social media this week. Based on videos of the vehicle that have been shared online, it appears that Cybercab tests are underway across multiple states.
Recent Cybercab sightings
Reports of Cybercab tests have ramped this week, with a vehicle that looked like a production-ready prototype being spotted at Apple’s Visitor Center in California. The vehicle in this sighting was interesting as it was equipped with a steering wheel. The vehicle also featured some changes to the design of its brake lights.
The Cybercab was also filmed testing at the Fremont factory’s test track, which also seemed to involve a vehicle that looked production-ready. This also seemed to be the case for a Cybercab that was spotted in Austin, Texas, which happened to be undergoing real-world tests. Overall, these sightings suggest that Cybercab testing is fully underway, and the vehicle is really moving towards production.
Production design all but finalized?
Recently, a near-production-ready Cybercab was showcased at Tesla’s Santana Row showroom in San Jose. The vehicle was equipped with frameless windows, dual windshield wipers, powered butterfly door struts, an extended front splitter, an updated lightbar, new wheel covers, and a license plate bracket. Interior updates include redesigned dash/door panels, refined seats with center cupholders, updated carpet, and what appeared to be improved legroom.
There seems to be a pretty good chance that the Cybercab’s design has been all but finalized, at least considering Elon Musk’s comments at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting. During the event, Musk confirmed that the vehicle will enter production around April 2026, and its production targets will be quite ambitious.
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Tesla gets a win in Sweden as union withdraws potentially “illegal” blockade
As per recent reports, the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla action might have been illegal.
Swedish union Vision has withdrawn its sympathy blockade against Tesla’s planned service center and showroom in Kalmar. As per recent reports, the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla action might have been illegal.
Vision’s decision to pull the blockade
Vision announced the blockade in early December, stating that it was targeting the administrative handling of Tesla’s facility permits in Kalmar municipality. The sympathy measure was expected to start Monday, but was formally withdrawn via documents sent to the Mediation Institute and Kalmar Municipality last week.
As noted in a Daggers Arbete report, plans for the strike were ultimately pulled after employer group SKR highlighted potential illegality under the Public Employment Act. Vision stressed its continued backing for the Swedish labor model, though Deputy negotiation manager Oskar Pettersson explained that the Vision union and IF Metall made the decision to cancel the planned strike together.
“We will not continue to challenge the regulations,” Petterson said. “The objection was of a technical nature. We made the assessment together with IF Metall that we were not in a position to challenge the legal assessment of whether we could take this particular action against Tesla. Therefore, we chose to revoke the notice itself.”
The SKR’s warning
Petterson also stated that SKR’s technical objection to the Vision union’s planned anti-Tesla strike framed the protest as an unauthorized act. “It was a legal assessment of the situation. Both for us and for IF Metall, it is important to be clear that we stand for the Swedish model. But we should not continue to challenge the regulations and risk getting judgments that lead nowhere in the application of the regulations,” he said.
Vision ultimately canceled its planned blockade against Tesla on December 9. With Vision’s withdrawal, few obstacles remain for Tesla’s long-planned Kalmar site. A foreign electrical firm completed work this fall, and Tesla’s Careers page currently lists a full-time service manager position based there, signaling an imminent opening.
Tesla Semi Program Director Dan Priestly teased the major improvements to the all-electric Class 8 truck on Thursday night, following the company’s decision to overhaul the design earlier this year.
Priestley said he drove the Semi on Thursday, and the improvements appear to be welcomed by one of the minds behind the project. “Our customers are going to love it,” he concluded.
Just drove the redesigned Semi. Our customers are going to love it. https://t.co/KZ88sf1CDL
— Dan Priestley (@danWpriestley) December 19, 2025
The small detail does not seem like much, but it is coming from someone who has been involved in the development of the truck from A to Z. Priestley has been involved in the Semi program since November 2015 and has slowly worked his way through the ranks, and currently stands as the Director of the program.
Tesla Semi undergoes major redesign as dedicated factory preps for deliveries
Tesla made some major changes to the Semi design as it announced at the 2025 Annual Shareholder Meeting that it changed the look and design to welcome improvements in efficiency.
Initially, Tesla adopted the blade-like light bar for the Semi, similar to the one that is present on the Model Y Premium and the Cybertruck.
Additionally, there are some slight aesthetic changes to help with efficiency, including a redesigned bumper with improved aero channels, a smaller wraparound windshield, and a smoother roofline for better aero performance.
All of these changes came as the company’s Semi Factory, which is located on Gigafactory Nevada’s property, was finishing up construction in preparation for initial production phases, as Tesla is planning to ramp up manufacturing next year. CEO Elon Musk has said the Semi has attracted “ridiculous demand.”
The Semi has already gathered many large companies that have signed up to buy units, including Frito-Lay and PepsiCo., which have been helping Tesla test the vehicle in a pilot program to test range, efficiency, and other important metrics that will be a major selling point.
Tesla will be the Semi’s first user, though, and the truck will help solve some of the company’s logistics needs in the coming years.
Tesla Cybercab tests are going on overdrive with production-ready units
Tesla gets a win in Sweden as union withdraws potentially “illegal” blockade
