Tesla ‘unveils plan’ for 6-seat version of Model-Y car under new Juniper program – & two more updates to come next year

TESLA reportedly wants to revamp one of its best-selling models with an extra seat.

The electric vehicle company’s “Juniper” program is working to build several car variants as it faces stiff competition globally.

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Tesla wants to produce a six-seater Model Y in a Chinese plant, according to Reuters .

The story credits two anonymous sources from inside the electric vehicle company, who reported that Tesla plans to unveil the updated production vehicle in late 2025.

Tesla did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for confirmation.

Current editions of the Model Y SUV have five seats. The additional sixth seat would likely be specific to the Chinese vehicle market if it comes to production.

Tesla builds the electric SUV in three plants, including one US factory – Freemont, California; Shanghai, China; and Berlin, Germany.

Export costs for EVs produced in China have become increasingly expensive for production companies as several countries expanded tariffs on Chinese-built EVs.

The US, EU, and Canada imposed extensive tariffs on Chinese-produced EVs.

The company would likely build the six-seater in Tesla’s Shanghai factory, where the extra seat-equipped vehicles would be subject to import tariffs.

The company has sought to expand capacity in the Shanghai factory.

Tesla has asked Chinese officials to build out the factory as it anticipates more growth of the EV, Reuters reported.

The Model Y is the best-selling car, regardless of class or powertrain, in China and Europe.

Tesla reported 207,800 deliveries of the EV SUV to Chinese consumers from January to June.

However, the SUV first rolled off production lots into consumers’ hands in 2020.

Tesla has faced increasingly stiff competition in the Chinese market as several up-and-coming EV brands unveil new cars with similar features to compete with Tesla’s four-year-old model.

Inside the 2024 Model Y

Here is more information on the current Tesla Model Y:

The 2024 Tesla Model Y is an electric crossover. It’s the best-selling consumer vehicle in China and Europe.

The car has several powertrain options, including the popular Long Range and Performance variants.

Prices in the US start at $52,990 for the Long Range, while the Performance model costs $58,990.

• Range: Up to 330 miles (Long Range variant)
• Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds (Performance variant)
• Top Speed: 155 mph (Performance variant)
• Charging: 250 kW maximum Supercharging capability – up to 162 miles in 15 minutes
• Interior: 15-inch touchscreen with Tesla’s proprietary digital display

BYD, the largest automaker in China, launched the Seagull EV with around 250 miles of range.

The Seagull’s initial price is just north of $10,000.

The Model Y’s Chinese price is almost four times the Seagull’s. Base models are $36,440.

The company has launched a project code-named Juniper to revamp the vehicle for future production.

An updated model of the best-selling SUV will likely hit sales floors in early 2025, an unnamed source told Reuters.

Tesla produces a three-row version of the Model Y for American consumers, but the anonymous sources told Reuters the back seats are too cramped for consumers.

“It’s not even large enough for a large-sized dog,” the source said.