The newest addition to the Tesla lineup, the Model Y L – a long-wheelbase, six-seat variant of the bestselling SUV – is currently being tested on roads in China. A sales license filing submitted to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) indicates that the vehicle is designed to address a growing need in the world’s largest EV market: more space and family-friendly electric vehicles. With production already verified at Gigafactory Shanghai, the Model Y L is expected to launch in China this fall.
A Closer Look at the Model Y L
The Model Y L is a more stretched version of the Model Y, with a length of 4,976 mm, 179 mm longer in comparison with the typical one. Its wheelbase has also been expanded by 150 mm, reaching 3,040 mm, and its height has also been enhanced by 44 mm to 1,668 mm. These upgrades lead to an enlarged cabin, improved rear-seat comfort, and a much better-looking third row.
It is also somewhat heavier than before, but this has not been at all dramatic, with a total weight of 2,088 kg, mostly courtesy of its longer structure and the strengthening. In spite of the increased size and weight, Tesla insists that Y L would still have the performance standards of the brand.
🔥🔥 New 6-seat Tesla Model Y L spotted testing in China pic.twitter.com/CIJ0k3aQPx
— Tesla Newswire (@TeslaNewswire) July 23, 2025
New Six-Seater-Configuration
The Model Y L is dedicated to utilizing a 2-2-2 seating arrangement rather than a 2-2-3 seating arrangement, which characterized the former Model Y types, to fit a third-row bench seat in between. This floor plan has two captain chairs on the second row, which enhances comfort among passengers and easy access to the third row.
Regulatory filings and company photographs confirm that there will be six individual seats, and there is more seating and greater headroom in the cabin because the body is longer and taller. The changes that may occur in terms of the interior design have not been fully disclosed yet.
Performance and Powertrain
As the data provided by MIIT points out, the Model Y L will have a dual-motor all-wheel drive. The front motor outputs 142 kW, and the one in the rear outputs 198 kW, and has a total output of around 340 kW (456 horsepower). The rated top speed is approximately 201 km/h. The estimated 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time is 5.9 seconds, which is slower than the standard dual-motor Y.
LG is said to be the supplier of the battery pack and which makes use of the NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) chemistry, which balances between the energy density and the performance.
Market Positioning and Strategy
The decision to come up with and introduce a long-wheelbase Model Y is a reaction of Tesla to the market in China. The local rivals, including BYD, NIO, and Xiaomi, are rapidly growing their SUV lineup that targets families with their roomy, technology-focused cars. With the addition of a new six-seater, Tesla will also play in the mid-to-premium segment, trying to reclaim what it has lost due to low sales rates and growing prices in the area.
Model Y L has practical applicability between the regular Model Y and the more expensive Model X, hence three-row capability without being expensive like luxury SUVs.
Prices and Availability
Although not yet official, analysts predict that the Model Y L will begin at RMB 300,000 to 400,000 (about $41,800 to $55,700). It would be a competitive position, as it would cost more than a regular dual-motor Model Y but significantly less than the entry-level Model X, and would appeal to the increasing segments of the population.
The Shanghai Tesla factory will be used to produce it, and closer to the end of 2025, it will make deliveries. No official comment is available in regard to the global rollout of this model, but industry watchers think that there might as well be an equivalent kind being sold in North America and Europe, provided the demand in China warrants a good response.
