Tesla Model Y live photos of the new Glacier Blue colour

The new shade of the electric SUV is immortalised by an X user. Orders pour in from China: 50,000 in one day

Photo by: Tesla

By: Filippo Einaudi

Jan 14, 2025 at 4:59am ET

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Tesla's mid-career restyling of the Tesla Model Y, so far only launched in China, is recording extraordinary success with over 50,000 orders in the first 24 hours.

Deliveries of the updated vehicles will begin in China in March, with expansion expected shortly in other markets such as Australia and the Philippines. For now, Europe and North America will have to wait a few months. Strong demand has already led to estimated waiting times of months, with a horizon as late as April or May for new orders.

Design causes debate, but the car pleases

The record orders reflect the high expectations of the Chinese market, where Tesla has reported sales of around 480,000 units of the Model Y in 2024. With the new update, the company looks set to maintain its momentum despite the fact that not all opinions about the new design are enthusiastic.

Indeed, the Model Y features aesthetic changes, including a restyled front end that has received more positive reviews than the rear, where some critics find the design less convincing. The restyling has in fact proved less popular than that of the Model 3, which is - it must be said - less radical, but at the same time seems to have been defined precisely to wink even more at the tastes of the Chinese market.

Tesla Model Y (2025)

Photo by: Tesla

On the other hand, the technical improvements of the Model Y have satisfied most of the public. For the time being, as mentioned above, the launch of the new version is limited to the Chinese market and other regions covered by Shanghai Gigafactory production, while the debut in Europe and North America is expected in the coming months, but no firm dates have yet been set.

Tesla Model Y (2025)

Photos by: Tesla

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New colours

In addition to the restyling and the new interior taken from the Model 3, highlights include new available body colours, including sophisticated Glacier Blue, modern Stealth Grey and brilliant Ultra Red. Glacier Blue is a lighter shade than Tesla's classic Deep Blue Metallic and has been received with curiosity by enthusiasts. Tesla, known for offering a limited colour range to optimise production, is thus responding to requests for more colour diversity.