Recently, a user on X ( formerly Twitter) caught sight of two highly camouflaged-looking vehicles moving around the western section of Giga Texas. Because a short video of the drive was released, Tesla community members have widely discussed the vehicles. Could the images be of early-stage Model Y Performances, or might they be shots of a more affordable-priced version of its best-selling SUV?
On social media, people quickly saw this video of two Tesla vehicles shrouded in full camouflage wrapping that covers the entire vehicle, a rare thing for cars so close to Tesla’s factories. There is usually a direct reveal or leak of changes to Tesla’s cars, but this use of camouflage means something big could be hidden in testing.
People following Tesla and experts in the industry say these cars are likely prototypes of the Model Y. This claim is supported by Giga Texas being the main factory for building Model Y cars in the US. The specific details of what the updates involve are yet to be seen.
Model Y Performance Variant?
A popular assumption is that they are prototypes for the Performance Model Y. Recently, the Performance Variant of Model Y was also spotted in China. While Tesla has been working to produce more Model Ys and make them more affordable, it has not talked much about Model Y upgrades lately. Lately, the company has been making updates to its cars, for example, the changed Model 3 Highland,” which could soon happen with Model Y, too.
Caught something interesting today … two heavily camouflaged cars driving on the W side of Giga Texas. Several viewers noted this in my short video on the autonomous drive.
Here is the pertinent section zoomed in … what do you think? pic.twitter.com/xkXrz2YCvQ
— Joe Tegtmeyer 🚀 🤠🛸😎 (@JoeTegtmeyer) May 14, 2025
There is also speculation that these new vehicles are early versions of a more affordable variant of Model Y, supposed to fill the space between Tesla’s current RWD Model Y and the company’s planned cheap compact vehicle. With Ford, Hyundai, and Rivian now entering the electric SUV market, Tesla might be targeting more people by providing the same top-notch products and features.
The company is adopting cheaper methods at Giga Texas, including 4680-cell battery packs, big single-piece windshields in front and back, and simpler designs for the inside of the cars. Making a more affordable version of the Model Y by lowering the battery size or weakening AWD may help Tesla control the mid-size EV SUV market.
Why Giga Texas?
The focus of Tesla’s future production is mainly on Giga Texas. Tesla is using the facility to test and develop the latest vehicles and new ways of producing them. It covers the production of Cybertrucks, batteries, and new methods used in creating vehicles, such as giga-castings and unboxed assembly.
The presence of stealthy vehicles at this top facility helps prove that exciting new things are being tested there. Whether there is a faster version, a tweaked model, or a cheaper trim, these appearances are most likely the start of a new period for the Model Y.
Conclusion
Although Tesla has been quiet about the disguised vehicles spotted at Giga Texas, the hype they’ve created proves the Model Y plays a significant role in the company and that many people are eagerly waiting for its launch. At this time, one thing does not need to be clear: Tesla isn’t slowing down. Be it the Performance Model Y or an update within the same price range, changes are on the way, and they might come sooner than anticipated.
