Tesla plans a 6-seat version of Model Y in a bid to reclaim lost market share in China
Tesla teases the launch of the longer wheelbase Model Y L, due this autumn, in a social media post
Tesla will introduce a longer, six-seat version of its popular Model Y SUV in China, a strategic move aimed at reclaiming market share in the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market amid increasing competition from domestic rivals.
The new variant, dubbed the Model Y L, is set to debut this autumn, the US EV giant announced on Chinese social media on Wednesday, in a post that read, “Model Y L, see you in the autumn!”
Although the company has yet to disclose specific vehicle information, the new model is close to 5 metres in length with a wheelbase of 3.04 metres, slightly longer than the standard version, according to details published on Wednesday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Tesla has not announced the price of the Model Y L, but the base Model Y currently starts at 263,500 yuan (US$36,715) in China.
The Model Y is Tesla’s bestselling model globally, with its Shanghai Gigafactory being a major production hub that contributes to over 40 per cent of the carmaker’s global vehicle production capacity.
The Model Y, with annual deliveries of more than 480,000 on the mainland, outsold all other SUVs, including petrol-powered cars, in 2024, according to the China Passenger Car Association.