- Tesla has discontinued the Model Y's Launch Series trim level in the U.S.
- Now, the only version available stateside is the Long Range All-Wheel Drive.
- It starts at $48,990 excluding destination and taxes.
The refreshed Tesla Model Y electric crossover is now much cheaper in the United States after the American EV maker discontinued the Launch Series trim. It came with all the bells and whistles, including the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) driver assistance system, and was priced at $59,990 before shipping and taxes.
Now, after roughly a month on sale, the Model Y Launch Series is gone from Tesla’s U.S. website. In its place is the Long Range All-Wheel Drive variant, which starts at $48,990 before factoring in the destination fee and taxes. The change was made late last week.
Compared to the Launch Series model, it comes without FSD included. That's an $8,000 option, or buyers can choose it as a subscription service for a recurring fee. The Launch Series also came with a vegan suede interior and Launch Series badges all around.
Interestingly, the zero to 60 miles per hour time of the newly launched Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive is 4.6 seconds, according to Tesla, whereas the Launch Series could do it in 4.1 seconds. It’s unclear if the non-Launch Series version has less power or torque, though. In Europe, the refreshed Model Y Dual Motor Long Range delivers around 370 horsepower and 363 pound-feet of torque. The 327-mile EPA range rating for the version with 19-inch all-season tires remains unchanged. There’s also the option for 20-inch wheels with all-season tires, which drops the range rating to 303 miles.
The options list includes a $1,000 tow hitch, $35 center console trays, $240 all-weather interior floor mats and a $500 roof rack. There’s no seven-seat option yet. The Tesla Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive is eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit, which essentially lowers the starting price to $41,490 if the customer fits the criteria for getting the credit.
The Model Y has long been Tesla’s best-selling car and at one point, it was even crowned the world’s best-selling car—EV or otherwise. There’s no higher praise than becoming a bestseller, but things seem to be changing at Tesla. Sales are down all over the world as people increasingly push back against Tesla CEO Elon Musk's antics. As for current Tesla owners, many are trading in their cars in protest and buying EVs from other automakers.
