Tesla has made a new move that might change its mid-year sales trajectory. It has begun selling a new, more affordable option, the revamped Model Y “Juniper,” in the United States. The Long Range All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) trim is the first non-Launch Series version of the Model Y, launched by the company to date in the U.S., with a base price of $48,990 before federal incentives.
This comes on the back of Tesla’s earlier release of the Juniper Launch Series, which boasted of premium pricing and for that, exclusive additions such as Full Self-Driving (FSD) were made as a standard. The new Long Range AWD trim gives a more affordable entry into Tesla’s updated top-seller for American customers who won’t spend extra for bundled features.
More Details
The Juniper Model Y update adds slight but significant enhancements to Tesla’s best-selling vehicle. While the Launch Series version had much hype, as it boasts up to 327 miles, a top speed of 125 MPH, as well as 0-60-MPH acceleration time of just 4.1 seconds, the newly launched long-range AWD trim retains most.
The new variant has a 327-mile range and 125 MPH top speed, but drops to 4.6 seconds 0-60 MPH acceleration. The small loss in performance is offset by the substantial price drop, making the vehicle more competitive, especially when combined with what buyers may be eligible for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
One of the big differences between the Launch Series and the new Long Range AWD trim is that the FSD, as a standard item, isn’t included. In the Launch Series, FSD was thrown into the price of the vehicle. FSD will cost the more affordable trim an extra $8,000 if bought outright. Alternatively, buyers have the option to go with Tesla’s monthly subscription plan that provides the FSD features at $99 per month.
Production Ramps Up in Texas
This release of the Long Range AWD Model Y Juniper is just in advance of reports that Tesla was upgrading production of non-launch edition models at its Gigafactory in Texas. While other countries have been available in a wider range of Juniper trim, American consumers have been waiting for more available configurations to hit US shores.
As production is now rising and new trims are entering the sales mix, Tesla appears well-positioned to recover from a tough first quarter. The company, meanwhile has not long ago explained its business performance for Q1 2025. Delivery below expected, the Republic of Korea based on the Storage Technology, said, however said retooling of Juniper production lines was the principal cause for the drag.
A Strategic Move for Q2 Growth
With Tesla piled up in an inventory surplus, having built nearly 22,000 more vehicles than it sold in Q1, a cheaper Model Y trim may help to balance that discrepancy in Q2. It also shows that Tesla is sticking with its competitive pricing strategy, despite increasing competition in the EV market.
The earnings call on April 22 will likely provide more insight into Tesla’s production outlook, sales outlook, and the place of the more affordable Juniper trim in its overall strategy.
Until now, the new Long Range AWD Model Y Juniper represents a very attractive alternative for EV buyers who want to put their hands on the latest Tesla tech and design refreshes, without footing the Launch Series price bill.
