In November 2019, Tesla announced that the Tesla Model Y would be the first vehicle to be assembled at the first European Gigafactory, Giga Berlin. The Fremont Factory was changed to accommodate production of the Y. Due to its larger size, the Y consumes more energy than the 3, and thus has shorter range. Test drives of multiple Model Y vehicles were also offered to attendees after the presentation. On March 14, 2019, Elon Musk debuted the Tesla Model Y at an event at Tesla's design studio in Hawthorne, CA, where specifications were announced and the vehicle was shown.
Musk confirmed the vehicle will use standard doors, as opposed to the falcon-wing doors used on the Model X. On March 3, 2019, Elon Musk published multiple tweets, announcing the unveiling event and confirming some specifications. In October 2018, Elon Musk revealed that he has approved the finalized design for the first production version of the Model Y, however production would not start until 2020. The Model Y announcement had been planned for 2018, however production problems with the Model 3 resulted in it being pushed to 2019. With the new image, it was stated that the Model Y would be formally announced in March 2019. In June 2018, a new silhouette was revealed by CEO Musk. Elon Musk also announced that the Model Y would be produced in a new factory, as it was not likely that the Fremont plant would have room to accommodate another production line. In 2017, the Model Y's silhouette was teased to Tesla shareholders at the annual general meeting in June. In 2015, Elon Musk teased a Model 3-based Model Y with falcon-wing doors. In 2013, Tesla Motors filed to trademark "Model Y". Tesla Model 3 (left) and Tesla Model Y (right) side by side By February 7, 2021, the Long Range RWD appears to have been cancelled. The Standard Range RWD configuration was initially canceled in July 2020, due to the range (230 miles EPA) being unacceptably low to Musk, but was orderable as of January 2021 (with 244 miles of EPA range). The Long Range AWD model and the Performance model are currently being delivered. There were four planned powertrain configurations for the Model Y: Standard Range Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive, Long Range with Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive (AWD), and Performance (with Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive). The Model Y fills a smaller and less expensive segment than the full-sized Tesla Model X. Model Y offers optional third-row seats for a seven-passenger seating capacity. The Model Y shares an estimated 75% of its parts with the Tesla Model 3, which includes a similar interior design and electric powertrain. It is the second vehicle based on the Model 3 sedan platform.
Tesla unveiled it in March 2019, started production at its Fremont plant in January 2020, and started deliveries on March 13, 2020. The Tesla Model Y is an electric compact crossover utility vehicle (CUV) by Tesla, Inc.