Tesla seems to have ditched its ultra-minimalist approach to physical controls in the name of cost savings with the refreshed Tesla Model Y, also known as “Juniper.” No, we still don’t get actual buttons for controlling the climate system or a volume knob, but at least the turn signal stalk is still there on the steering column.

The Juniper facelift for Tesla’s midsize crossover will take some time to appear in all regions, and the US is not at the head of the line.

The revised Model Y is available to order in China. Apart from the return of a turn signal lever, little seems new. Tesla is likely to retain the powertrain.

The company's Gigafactory in Brandenburg (near the country's capital in Berlin) started building the facelifted electric crossover today.

Tesla unveiled the new Model Y in China and started taking orders in the country and a few other markets that Tesla supplies with its Gigafactory Shanghai. The vehicle was not yet available to order in Europe and North America despite Tesla also producing the Model Y in Germany and the US.

The first cars of the updated Model Y were rolling off the line at Tesla's European plant outside of Berlin on Tuesday. But a company spokeswoman said that this does not yet mark the official start of production,