2023-05-08 07:58:00
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Alexey Razin
Initially, Tesla expected to produce 4680 battery cells in Germany, which would be equipped with locally assembled electric vehicles, but then abandoned this initiative for economic reasons. Equipping the initial versions of the German-assembled Tesla Model Y with Chinese BYD batteries, judging by eyewitness accounts, turned out to be profitable.
Image Source: Tesla
In principle, Tesla’s preparation to use BYD-made traction batteries in German-assembled cars is not a secret, since back in August last year the company received the appropriate permission from local authorities. Recall that the supplier of LFP batteries for Chinese-assembled Tesla cars is CATL, which controls more than a third of the world market. For some reason, to equip German-assembled Model Y crossovers, Tesla chose to opt for competing BYD products. The latter is also a major supplier of lithium batteries, but at the same time it also produces electric vehicles, which are already much more popular than Tesla products in the Chinese market.
The source of the news regarding the appearance of basic versions of the Tesla Model Y with batteries manufactured by BYD in Germany was a profile resource TeslaMag, who, citing members of the TFF community, announced the start of production of the rear-wheel drive Model Y Standard Range in the vicinity of Berlin. Previously, such machines were supplied to the local market from Shanghai, where they were equipped with CATL batteries, and now Tesla in Germany has begun to produce similar machines on its own. The start of production is judged by the forum participants by the content of the VIN numbers, which the company provided to customers who ordered the basic versions of the Model Y with rear-wheel drive in Germany. This number gives out German-made cars in them.
Earlier, sources reported that batteries manufactured by BYD at a German enterprise will be integrated into the power frame of Tesla Model Y crossovers, as was expected in the case of cells of the 4680 type. In addition to improving the manufacturability of the design and strength of the body, this allows optimizing the layout of cells inside the battery. However, in the Standard Range version, the Tesla Model Y rear-wheel drive crossover has a traction battery capacity of no more than 59 kWh, according to eyewitnesses, so the reserves of this design solution are not in full demand. Chinese-built cars with CATL batteries had a battery capacity of up to 61 kWh, but Tesla claims an identical WLTP range of 455 km for both variants.
Recently, the German company Tesla also began mass production of Model Y crossovers in two new body colors, one of which is a dark cherry metallic with a complex multilayer coating structure. A more advanced painting complex allows the German company to expand the color gamut of manufactured cars compared to other Tesla sites.
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