Spotted near Tesla’s Giga Shanghai factory, a camouflaged budget Model Y, codenamed Project E41, is Tesla’s attempt to make electric driving more affordable. Targeting a $35,000 price point, this stripped down electric SUV sacrifices premium features to make electric driving accessible while keeping Tesla’s core tech.
LEAKED: $TSLA new affordable Model Y
• Exterior •
🔹 Front bumper camera
🔹 No split headlights
🔹 No glass roof
🔹 No rear indirect light bar
🔹 Afterburner reflection panel replaced by painted body panel• Interior •
🔸 No cupholder cover
🔸 No storage in front of… pic.twitter.com/1A9IXXukHg— Luca Presti (@LVCAPRESTI) July 26, 2025
To achieve affordability, Tesla removed the panoramic glass roof and replaced it with a solid, body-colored panel to reduce costs while maintaining structural integrity. This change, pending crash test validation, will alter the Model Y’s open look. The Juniper refresh’s sleek LED light bar and reflective rear light are gone, with simpler headlights and conventional brake lights to reduce production complexity while keeping the Model Y’s shape.
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The interior is all about cost efficiency. No ventilated front seats, vegan leather with cloth upholstery, no rear touchscreen, no rear hooks, and some cupholder storage removed. The audio system has fewer speakers, no A-pillar units which may affect sound quality. But the 15.4-inch central display remains to keep Tesla’s tech interface.
Performance specs suggest a 50-55 kWh battery, 300 miles of range under China’s CLTC standard, 250-280 miles under U.S. EPA testing. A single rear-wheel-drive motor with 295 horsepower and 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds. Charging up to 170 kW and 150 miles in 15 minutes for daily use.
It has roughly the same dimensions as the standard Model Y—4,797 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, 1,624 mm tall, 2,890 mm wheelbase— as well as 2,130 liters of cargo space with seats folded, but slightly reduced rear legroom. This will be offered in a five-seat layout only – no seven-seat option confirmed. This keeps the Model Y’s utility for families.In the competitive EV market in China where BYD and Xiaomi’s YU7 is challenging Tesla, this budget model can be priced as low as 150,000-210,000 yuan ($20,500-$28,800) compared to the Juniper Model Y’s 263,500 yuan ($35,950). In the U.S. where the Model Y Long Range RWD starts at $44,990, the $35,000 target can attract cost-conscious buyers. The 400V architecture and AI4 Autopilot hardware means future-ready features like Full Self-Driving.
This budget Model Y cuts costs but not capability, using Tesla’s Supercharger network and proven platform to compete in China and beyond. Production starts in 2026 and aims to make electric SUVs mainstream, space, range and tech without the premium frills.
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