Tesla has launched its most affordable Model Y, the Standard variant, in its first right-hand-drive market, the UK, with a 14% drop in price over the previous base RWD model, hinting at a possible Australian rrival in 2026.
This news comes in under two months after it was originally announced with a post on X by Tesla UK saying: “Model Y Standard now available in the UK. Starts at £299/mo. Test drives start in January.”
The Model Y Standard will be offered in the UK at £41,990, it sits under the previous RWD model which is priced from £48,990, a drop of over 14.2%.
With this price, it will come under the BYD Sealion 7 SUV, which starts at £44,990 in the UK.
In October, Tesla unveiled its new “affordable” versions of its Model Y and Model 3 electric car in the US, with price reductions of up to 11% off the base price.
Then, within a couple of days of that reveal, the company swiftly launched the Model Y version, known as the Model Y Standard, in multiple left-hand-drive European countries, revealing pricing and specs.
Image: Tesla
With that reveal, we got to see some European specifications for the Model Y Standard outside of the US.
The new base Model Y will come to the market with 534 km of WLTP range and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.2 seconds.
One other key difference between the Model Y Standard in the US and this version was that in Europe, it will be offered with Autopilot.
That’s because in the US the car only comes with cruise control, which the customers can upgrade to FSD Supervised for $US99/month.
Given that the FSD Supervised software isn’t available in European markets just yet, the company is offering the Autopilot suite to customers who purchase this base, cheaper car, which comes equipped with Tesla’s latest Hardware 4 (AI4) hardware, including a computer and a high-definition camera suite.
This Standard model is available with 18-inch wheels with aerocovers on them. Styling for both models is similar to the current lineup, although the Model Y Standard has a more Model 3-like headlights at the front.
A key change is that the glass roof is closed off on the inside with a fabric, in line with the rest of the interior.
Image: Tesla
The base Model Y cuts costs by offering textile materials for seating, manual adjustments, a 7-speaker audio, and no rear screen.
The latest model will be produced from Tesla’s Berlin factory in both left and right-hand-drive markets, which paves the path for its potential arrival in markets like Australia and New Zealand.
First test-drives of the Model Y Standard in the UK are to begin next month.
With the recent launch of the Model Y Performance, we are starting to get European-built Tesla’s so it could likely be the supply plant if the Model Y Standard is offered here.
Tesla Model Y Standard Specifications
Drive
Battery: Standard Range
Range (WLTP): 534 km
Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 7.2 sec
Drive: Rear-wheel drive
Dimensions
Weight (ready to drive): 1,906 kg
Boot space: 2,118 liters
Wheels: 18″
Seats: 5 adults
Display: 15.4” central touchscreen
Ground clearance: 164 mm
Total width: Mirrors unfolded: 2,129 mm
Total height: 1,621 mm
Total length: 4,797 mm
Power consumption: 13.1 kWh/100 km
Charging
Supercharging, max: 175 kW
Charging speed: Charge up to 260 km in 15 minutes
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.
