Image: Tesla
Tesla’s Vice President of Engineering, Lars Moravy, has explained why the company’s new entry-level Model Y Standard doesn’t feature the panoramic glass roof found on higher trims.
The discussion started when EV reviewer and YouTuber @ItsKimJava posted on X that, according to a Tesla engineer, the new closed-roof Model Y variant still uses glass — but it’s opaque, meaning owners wouldn’t see through it even if they removed the fabric headliner.
“All glass is not created equal,” Moravy responded. “Remember, the Model Y Premium glass is laminated with silver IR reflective coatings to make it super comfy and reject solar load… the standard is not… plus LOTS of people wanted a closed headliner, always trying to listen (and improve road noise at same time).”
When asked why Tesla went for glass instead of a metal roof, Moravy cited “cost, supply chain and manufacturing efficiency in our factories” as the key reasons.
Image: Tesla
The comments come days after Tesla launched the cheaper Model Y Standard in the U.S. earlier this week, followed by several European markets shortly after. Deliveries for the new variant are slated to begin in November.
The “Premium” version Moravy referenced is what Tesla previously called the Model Y Long Range, which the company rebranded this week alongside the launch of its new Model 3 Standard and Model Y Standard. The base Model Y drops the panoramic glass roof for a closed textile headliner — a move that not only cuts costs but, per Moravy, also addresses customer feedback. The lack of laminated and coated glass likely helps Tesla reduce production complexity while improving cabin noise and heat isolation.
Despite being the lowest-priced Model Y yet, the Standard variant still delivers up to 321 miles of EPA-estimated range, a top speed of 125 mph, and goes 0–60 mph in 6.8 seconds. It’s powered by Tesla’s latest HW4 computer and maintains the brand’s hallmark efficiency and safety.
However, Tesla has trimmed other premium touches to hit its lower price point, including manual-adjust seats and steering, and the omission of ventilated rear seats and the second-row touchscreen found in higher trims.
With deliveries beginning next month, the new Model Y Standard brings Tesla’s most popular SUV to a wider audience — even if buyers have to trade a view of the sky for better insulation and a lower price. Let us know what you think of the Model Y Standard’s closed roof in the comments below.
