Tesla has officially launched the Model Y L, its stretched six-seat variant of its best-selling crossover. The model is built exclusively for the Chinese market, where the carmaker works hard to reinvigorate demand.
Chinese customers like being driven while sitting on the rear bench, and Tesla now wants to serve them that treat without too much compromise. At 4,976 mm in length, the Model Y L is 180 mm longer than the standard version, with a wheelbase stretched by 150 mm.
That added space allows for a reconfigured cabin with six seats in a 2+2+2 arrangement, featuring captain’s chairs in the second row.
More room and cargo
Tesla opted not to pursue a seven-seat configuration, like in the Model X, instead focusing on passenger comfort, with expanded legroom, heating and ventilation for the rear rows, and a completely flat cargo floor when seats are folded.
The cargo capacity increases to 2,539 liters, a notable gain over the standard Model Y. This model is specifically designed to align with Chinese customer preferences.
The new model, priced from 339,000 yuan (€40,325), went live on Monday on Tesla’s Chinese configurator following weeks of speculation and regulatory filings. Deliveries are scheduled to begin next month.
The vehicle becomes the first long-wheelbase Tesla model. The brand joins a long tradition of automakers developing extended models tailored specifically for Chinese buyers, such as the Audi Q5L, BMW X1 Li, or Mercedes A-Class L Sedan, to name a few.
Aero offsets higher weight
The Y L also features some exterior revisions, including a reshaped roofline, elongated rear doors, a black rear spoiler, and new 19-inch “rotating mecha” wheels. Aerodynamic refinements help deliver a drag coefficient of 0.216, aiding efficiency despite the vehicle’s larger footprint. It helps.
Powered by an 82-kWh ternary lithium battery, the Model Y L delivers 751 km of range under China’s CLTC cycle — a figure nearly identical to the shorter Model Y despite the additional size.
Inside, Tesla added a 16-inch central display — up from 15.4 inches — and swapped in front seats borrowed from the Model 3 Performance. Regarding performance, the official figures remain close to those of the Model Y Long Range AWD, with dual motors producing a combined 340 kW. The crossover sprints from 0 to 100 km/hour in 4.5 seconds, two-tenths slower than its smaller sibling.
To Europe after all?
The launch comes as Tesla faces intensifying pressure in China, the world’s largest EV market. Once the dominant foreign EV brand, Tesla has seen its momentum slowed by homegrown rivals offering larger interiors and lower prices. Last month’s sales of Shanghai-built Teslas fell 8.4 percent year over year.
For now, Tesla doesn’t plan to export the Model Y L beyond the Chinese market, but the opportunities abroad are under evaluation. As Tesla has withdrawn the three-row Model X in European markets, this new addition would fill that gap.
