Tesla has strengthened its position in the UK fleet market with the launch of a new entry-level Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive, priced from £44,990.
The revised line-up drops the previous ‘Standard’ badging and introduces a lower-cost Long Range variant that undercuts the model it replaces by around £4,000, while sitting £3,000 above the basic Rear-Wheel Drive version. A Premium trim is available at £48,990.
For fleet operators, the headline figure is the 383-mile WLTP range, delivered from the same 82kWh battery pack used previously. That represents a modest four-mile reduction on the outgoing car, but keeps the Model Y firmly in contention for high-mileage user-choosers and grey fleet replacement strategies.
The standard Rear-Wheel Drive variant offers up to 314 miles, aided by weight reductions.
Cost focus brings specification changes
To achieve the sharper price point, Tesla has pared back specification. Exterior light bars front and rear have been replaced by a simpler split-light design. The panoramic glass roof has been removed and frequency-selective dampers give way to passive suspension.
Inside, cloth seats replace faux leather upholstery, the centre console is simplified and the sound system drops from nine to seven speakers. Rear passengers lose their dedicated touchscreen, while the ‘Bioweapon Defence’ air filtration mode is no longer fitted.
The steering wheel is manually adjusted and access is via the Tesla smartphone app, as no physical key is supplied.
UK cars ride on 19-inch Crossflow alloy wheels, a decision likely aimed at protecting residual values in a competitive medium SUV segment.
Fleet implications
At £44,990, the Model Y Long Range RWD sits in the heart of the electric D-SUV market, competing directly with established fleet staples. Crucially, the reduced list price improves whole-life cost calculations and strengthens salary sacrifice affordability, particularly as Benefit-in-Kind remains favourable for zero-emission vehicles.
For fleets balancing driver attraction with cost control, the move signals Tesla’s intent to defend volume in the user-chooser space. The slight reduction in specification is unlikely to deter many company car drivers if the range and charging infrastructure continue to meet operational needs.
Tesla has applied the same stripped-back approach to the entry-level Model 3, with a Long Range version of that car expected to follow.