by SHEN Xiaoge
Tesla revealed on Wednsday night that a long-wheelbase version of its Model Y, dubbed the Model Y L, will launch this autumn in China. In a post on its official Weibo account, the company wrote: "Model Y L, see you this fall."
Produced at Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory, the Model Y L is an all-wheel-drive electric SUV with a six-seat configuration, a wheelbase exceeding 3 meters, and a total length of around 5 meters—7.5 centimeters longer than the Model X, according to Tesla representatives cited in Chinese media. Industry insiders estimate the price to be around 400,000 yuan (US$55,000).
Positioned between the Model Y and Model X, the Model Y L offers increased cabin space, upgraded interior finishes, and extended range. A Tesla spokesperson told Qianjiang Evening News the vehicle retains Tesla's core strengths in performance, comfort, and intelligent safety, and is primarily intended for the Chinese market.
On the same day, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology included a six-seat Tesla electric SUV—model code TSL6500BEVBA0—in its 397th batch of new vehicle product announcements.
The Model Y has long been a best-seller in China. In January, Tesla launched a refreshed version on its Chinese website, with deliveries starting in March. "The only thing that can surpass a Model Y is the new Model Y," Tesla said at the time.
Tesla delivered over 657,000 vehicles in China in 2024, up 8.8 percent year-on-year. Globally, however, total deliveries declined 1.1 percent to 1.789 million units—its first annual drop in over a decade. In the second quarter of 2025, Tesla sold 128,803 vehicles in China and about 151,000 in the US, together accounting for nearly 73 percent of global deliveries.
The long-wheelbase Model Y L arrives amid intensifying competition in China's premium electric SUV market. In late 2024, Chinese brands including Ledao, Zeekr, Luxeed, IM Motors, Avatr, and Voyah all launched new models aimed squarely at the Model Y.
Extending the wheelbase is seen as a strategic move to meet growing demand from families and multi-generational households. Tesla had previously told investors it planned to develop a three-row, long-wheelbase Model Y specifically for China in 2025. With roomier third-row seating, the Model Y L is designed to capture a new segment of family-oriented buyers.
