- Tiny Tesla Model Y replica seen driving in China.
- Although it looks silly, these tiny copycats are popular in the country.
- In fact, brands like Mecides can flourish with these legally questionable homages.
China’s automotive market is becoming a thorn on Tesla’s side, producing super affordable EVs that are much cheaper than anything the American or any other Western automaker, for that matter, can ever dream of producing. The company might not have to worry too much about its latest competitor, though.
This tiny car has been referred to as the “Temu Model Y” or a Tesla from Wish, but whatever you call it, it’s a pale imitation of the American automaker’s crossover — it looks like it would be right at home on a Subreddit like r/expectationsvsreality.
Read: From Bugattis To Broncos, China’s Mecides Is The Mother Of All Replicas
Although it’s much smaller, and as a result, way more dorky-looking, than a real Model Y, I’ll give its creators credit for successfully conveying the idea of a Tesla, given the circumstances. The headlights kind of look right, and the not-a-grille at the front is a convincing imitation of the real deal.
Things start to get a little more iffy along the side, though. As the car drives past the camera, the squashed proportions become even more apparent. And while we’re pointing out weird features, what’s going with the Bugatti Type 35 levels of positive camber on this car?
While it’s not clear from the video who is responsible for the tiny copycat, it’s anything but unique. We recently covered a new Chinese brand called Mecides, which has a whole range of squished replicas just like this one.
Like a real Tesla, the copycat cars from Mecides are powered by electric motors—albeit ones generating as much power as a particularly enthusiastic hamster on a wheel. We’re talking a measly 13 hp (10 kW / 14 PS) and 8 Nm (6 lb-ft) of torque.
Don’t worry, though, because their equally tiny 26 kWh battery packs them into a claimed range of 300 km (186 miles) to a frankly unbelievable 800 km (497 miles) between charges, depending on the model. Of course, we’d recommend taking those numbers with a salt lick.
Mecides offers a pretty impressive variety of products, recreating everything from Minis to Volkswagen ID.4s to Ford Broncos, and even Bugattis if you have Champagne tastes on a glass-of-water budget.
