Tesla’s facelifted Model Y has reportedly secured strong initial demand in China, with local media outlet 36kr citing Tesla sales staff as saying the vehicle has amassed 200,000 orders nationwide since pre-sales began on January 10.
“From the opening of pre-orders until today, each store in Beijing has been able to add nearly 100 new orders per day,” Tesla salespeople told 36kr. However, a significant portion of these are refundable orders, the report noted. Prior to the start of deliveries, Tesla’s pre-order page indicated a “refundable deposit,” a label that was removed after deliveries commenced on February 26.
See also: Tesla Introduces Accessories for 2026 Model Y Juniper Refresh, Including New Frunk Cooler
In the first week of deliveries, more than 6,000 units of the updated Model Y were handed over to customers in China, according to the report. Tesla initially launched the revamped five-seat Model Y on January 10, offering two “Launch Series” variants— a rear-wheel-drive version starting at RMB 263,500 ($36,380) and a long-range all-wheel-drive version priced from RMB 303,500. Deliveries of these models began on February 26, with the promotional series available only until February 28, offering buyers an additional two-year or 40,000-kilometer extended warranty.
Tesla began sales of the standard version of the updated Model Y in China on March 1, with pricing unchanged but without the Launch Series extended warranty incentive. As of now, customers ordering the rear-wheel-drive variant face a wait time of 2-4 weeks, while the long-range all-wheel-drive version has an estimated delivery window of 6-10 weeks, according to Tesla’s website in China. The long-range variant has seen a higher conversion rate from pre-orders to actual purchases, a Tesla source told 36kr.
See also: Tesla Starts Deliveries of Facelifted Model Y in China as Competition Grows
Meanwhile, deliveries of the standard-range rear-wheel-drive version are progressing ahead of schedule, with some customers originally slated for a four-week wait receiving notifications to collect their vehicles earlier than expected. A day before the Model Y facelift deliveries started, Tesla rolled out software update version 2024.45.32.12 in China, introducing advanced assisted driving capabilities resembling its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system.
Despite the update, Tesla sales representatives reportedly advised against purchasing the FSD package, which costs RMB 64,000 ($8,840). While all Tesla vehicles in China come with Basic Autopilot (BAP) at no additional cost, the company also offers an Enhanced Autopilot (EAP) package at half the price of FSD. “The latest update is not truly FSD but an advanced form of assisted driving,” salespeople told 36kr, cautioning that the system is currently trained on foreign datasets and may not yet perform optimally in China. They also hinted at future subscription-based pricing for FSD, suggesting a one-time purchase might not be cost-effective.
See also: Tesla Deploys U.S. Engineers to China for FSD Development, Advances Local Algorithm Optimization
Looking ahead, Tesla’s priorities in China this year include introducing the Cybertruck, despite limited demand for pickup trucks in the market. A Tesla source told 36kr that the Cybertruck’s distinctive design and innovative appeal could help strengthen the brand’s image among younger consumers in China.