Tesla vehicle designs in need of a facelift, say experts

The electric automaker has never returned to redesign any of the models, even for an MY (Model Year) change.

According to reports, industry experts and analysts are stating that Tesla is in need of a facelift. The brand's oldest mass-produced car is the Model S which will complete 11 years in June this year and while incoming refreshes have been rumoured, there is still no confirmed release date for the updates.

Analysts feel that updates to Tesla's affordable vehicles, the Model 3 & Model Y will be key in helping the company increase its delivery numbers in the coming year.

Reports state that Tesla has steadily introduced new vehicles in the last decade, with the Model X in 2016, Model 3 in 2017 and Model Y in 2020. The electric automaker though has never returned to redesign any of the models, even for an MY (Model Year) change, which is a common practice across the auto industry.

Many believe that Tesla doesn't require a traditional model-year change due to the constant over-the-air updates, which have helped Tesla enhance the ownership experience. However, reports suggest that if the company is planning on becoming a mass-market brand with the introduction of a sub $25,000 EV, this strategy could cause problems.

Sam Fiorani, an Automotive analyst from AutoForecast Solutions, stated that when a carmaker is selling 3,00,000 units of the same vehicle and many of them are together in a parking lot, customers want something which will set them apart from others.

In the days before a car was laden with tech, changing the look of a car gave the customer a reason to come back. While Tesla hasn't had to do that all these years, as it spent most of the last decade attracting early EV adopters. Now, with the car brand aiming to build 2 million vehicles in a year, it might need to have a look at its strategy.

Reports also indicate Tesla is already showing signs of a sales slump, requiring the company to slash prices and offer supercharger incentives to keep its numbers in check.

Source: BusinessInsider