Tesla Confirms Refreshed Model Y With 4680 Cells & New Architecture Will Begin Deliveries Early 2022

Last night Tesla announced the company’s quarterly earnings report. Tesla beat analyst consensus in almost all metrics posting record quarterly profits of $1.6 billion and record automotive gross margin of 30%.

Following, Tesla also held an earnings call with analysts and the EV maker’s top executives. Although Tesla CEO Elon Musk was notably absent as he decided going forward he will not be participating in earnings calls unless he feels like there is a specific issue he would like to address.

For the better or worse, Musk’s absence has made the earnings call a far more scripted and typical corporate affair. Still, we were able to glean some exciting updates from Tesla executives present during the call.

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One such update was a question regarding the delivery timeline of the refreshed Model Y with 4680 cells and a structural battery pack. In the call, Tesla’s Senior Vice President of Powertrain and Energy Engineering, Drew Baglino answer the question by saying.

[we expect the first vehicles to be delivered with 4680 cells] early next year. From a none cell perspective structural battery crash, range, and reliability testing are on track to be completed this quarter. Testing to date has gone well and the Fremont manufacturing line [Keto Road 4680 manufacturing plant] is on track to support [production].

This is a huge update from Tesla. We have known for some time now that Tesla was planning to begin production of the refreshed Model Y, which Musk has said will be the most advanced vehicle in the world with two-thirds of the body cast, in Giga Berlin and Giga Texas by the end of this quarter.

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However, Musk had also said on the previous Q2 2021 earnings call, if 4680 cell mass production was not able to scale up by the time Giga Berlin and Giga Texas are operational, Tesla was planning to introduce the refreshed Model Y with the 2170 cells available in the current Model Y.

Besides the 4680 cells, there are several updates expected to come with the refreshed Model Y. These include things such as a stunning new paint scheme that subtly change color with curvature, a single casting for the front chassis, significantly improved wiring. So, even though the 4680 cells don’t get introduced with the refreshed Model Y it will still be an exciting vehicle.

Tesla wants to be the second-largest top battery manufacturer in the world for electric vehicles by 2030 as only CATL is planning more. https://t.co/E4AxlbqVV1-#Tesla #CATL @elonmusk #TeslaBatteryCapacity pic.twitter.com/BfRTdUbytI— Torque News (@torquenewsauto) October 20, 2021

However, according to Tesla’s Battery Day event, the 4680 cells and the accompanying structural battery pack are expected to increase the energy density of the battery pack by as much as 54%. Based on Elon Musk’s comments, I have predicted the refreshed Model Y could have a 475-mile range. This would propel the already popular Model Y to a league of its own.

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And now, that Tesla has confirmed, the EV maker has figured out 4680 cells mass production to the point, the company feels comfortable to begin refreshed Model Y production from the get-go with the new batteries, this better explains why Tesla believes the Model Y will be the best selling vehicle in the world, of any kind, by revenue next year, and by deliveries in 2023.

However, during the call Drew cautioned, even though Tesla has been trying to address all issues to the best of the company’s ability, since the refreshed Model Y will be coming with brand new architecture and brand new cells, there is a chance for delays. Speaking at the earnings call Drew added

This is a new architecture and unknown, unknowns may exit. Still, our top priority is ensuring quality in what we deliver, and from a cell perspective, we are comfortable with the design maturity and manufacturing readiness matching the pack timeline I just mentioned.

Tesla in its earnings report said preproduction of the new Model Y will begin in Giga Texas and Giga Berlin this quarter. And as Tesla scales up production the EV maker will undoubtedly face challenges in the way. Make sure to visit our site torquenews.com/Tesla to keep up to date with the latest information.

So what do you think? Excited about the refreshed Model Y? Any improvements you’re looking to see in the new vehicle? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below.

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Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and The evolution of the EV space on a daily basis for several years. He covers everything about Tesla from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at @TinsaeAregay for daily Tesla news.