Even before you're inside the new budget Tesla you'll notice exactly what's missing
Published on Jul 29, 2025 at 4:48 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jul 29, 2025 at 11:51 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Images purportedly showing the new, more affordable Tesla Model Y have been shared online, and you’ll spot some big differences before you even get behind the wheel.
Tesla has been quietly working away on the entry-level EV for some time.
Now, images of what appear to be the no-frills Model Y have been spotted in China.
As you may have expected, the vehicle has a few differences from the standard model.
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Images of the more affordable Tesla Model Y have been leaked online
There have been months of speculation about when the more affordable Tesla would launch.
But now the carmaker has finally revealed that the first model has already been built, and volume production is on the way.
“We continue to expand our vehicle offering, including first builds of a more affordable model in June, with volume production planned for the second half of 2025,” Tesla said in a statement following the release of its Q2 financial results.
“Plans for new vehicles that will launch in 2025 remain on track, including initial production of a more affordable model in 1H25.”
Following the news that the car was already built, images were shared online of what appeared to be a stripped-back Model Y.
Tesla boss Elon Musk has since confirmed the new, more affordable Tesla is a Model Y, admitting that ‘the cat is out of the bag’.
The images shared on Weibo show a camouflaged car parked next to the updated Juniper version.
The images appear to show that the more affordable Tesla Model Y has ditched the panoramic glass roof, the front light bar, and the full-width rear light strip.
A closer look inside the car revealed that the center console appears to have been made shorter, and the 8-inch rear compartment touchscreen has also gone.
The seats and door panels are all covered, so it seems as though we might have to wait until Tesla officially unveils it to find out if they have undergone any significant changes.
The no-frills Model Y has come at a good time
It’s been a difficult year for Tesla.
Earlier this year, it confirmed that sales of the Cybertruck were down to just 5,000 units per quarter.
The company delivered around 15,000 cars in total, including ‘other models’, in Q2 2025, way lower than last year, which means that the company, for now, seems to be struggling across the board.
And things could get worse before they get better, after it was recently announced the US would be scrapping the federal tax credit on EVs after September, effectively meaning that most EVs will become $7,500 more expensive for buyers come October.
So, it seems as though now could be the ideal time for Tesla to launch a more affordable model – but whether it pays off or not, only time will tell.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
