Tesla's New Model Y L: A Six-Seater SUV Shaking Up China's EV Market

Key Points

The Tesla Model Y L is a new large six-seater luxury SUV specifically designed for the Chinese market, featuring an extended wheelbase of 3040mm.
It’s positioned between the standard Model Y and Model X, with an estimated price point around ¥400,000 RMB ($55,200 USD), aiming to capture the high-end family vehicle segment.
The Model Y L is being produced at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory and is expected to launch as early as Q3 this year, facing fierce competition from rivals like LeDao (乐道) L90 and Li Auto (理想) i8.
This launch is a strategic move, as Tesla China experienced a 14.6% decrease in wholesale sales and a 5.4% decrease in retail sales year-over-year from January to June, highlighting the need for new product appeal.

Tesla’s highly anticipated Model Y L is officially on its way, and it’s poised to make some serious waves in the competitive Chinese EV market.

On July 16, Tesla China dropped two official images of the new model with a simple, tantalizing caption: “See you in autumn.”

This isn’t just another refresh.

Tao Lin (Tao Lin 陶琳), Vice President of Tesla, confirmed the hype, describing the Model Y L as a large six-seater luxury SUV built for all scenarios.

This move signals a major strategic push by Tesla to capture the lucrative high-end family vehicle segment in China.

Tesla Model Y L Specs: A Closer Look at This Six-Seater SUV

So, what’s under the hood? Or rather, what’s inside the cabin?

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) just released its latest “Road Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Products Announcement,” giving us a sneak peek at the official specs.

Here’s the breakdown:

Model: TSL6500BEVBA0
Seating: A spacious three-row, six-seat configuration.
Length: Just under 5 meters, making it a seriously large SUV.
Wheelbase: A lengthy 3040mm. For context, that’s a significant stretch from the current Model Y’s 2890mm wheelbase.


Specification	Value
Model	TSL6500BEVBA0
Seating Configuration	Three-row, Six-seat
Wheelbase	3040mm
Length	Just under 5 meters

This isn’t Tesla’s first attempt at a third row.

They previously offered a seven-seat option in North America for $3,000 USD, but it was discontinued due to poor sales. The standard Model Y’s frame and fastback design just made that third row too cramped.

The Model Y L, with its extended wheelbase and larger frame, is Tesla’s direct answer to that problem.

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How Much Will the Model Y L Cost? Price and Launch Details

The Model Y L is being positioned as a flagship vehicle produced at Tesla’s (Tesla 特斯拉) Shanghai Gigafactory.

It’s designed to slot perfectly between the standard Model Y and the ultra-premium Model X.

Key features include:

All-wheel-drive (AWD)
Extended range
A an exceptionally spacious interior
More premium finishes and materials

Industry insiders are estimating a price point right around ¥400,000 RMB ($55,200 USD).

The new model is expected to launch as early as the third quarter of this year, with its primary focus being the Chinese market.

Heavy Competition: How the Model Y L Stacks Up Against Rivals

Tesla isn’t entering an empty arena.

The high-end, new energy six-seater SUV market in China is heating up fast. It’s the new strategic battleground for top automakers.

The competition is fierce, with major players making moves:

LeDao (Ledao 乐道) L90 just launched its pre-sale on July 10.
Li Auto’s (Lixiang 理想) first pure electric SUV, the i8, is set for a July 29 launch.
The pure electric version of the AITO (Wenjie 问界) M8 is slated for an August release.


Model	Estimated Price (RMB)	Equivalent Price (USD)
Tesla Model Y L	¥400,000	$55,200
Li Auto L9	¥409,800	$56,550
AITO M9	¥479,800 – ¥569,800	$66,200 – $78,600
LeDao L90 (Pre-sale)	¥279,900	$38,600

Let’s talk numbers. Here’s a quick pricing snapshot to see where the Model Y L fits in:

Current Tesla Model Y (RWD): ¥263,500 RMB ($36,360 USD)
LeDao (Ledao 乐道) L90 (Pre-sale): Starts at ¥279,900 RMB ($38,600 USD)
Tesla Model Y L (Estimated): Around ¥400,000 RMB ($55,200 USD)
Li Auto (Lixiang 理想) L9: Starts at ¥409,800 RMB ($56,550 USD)
AITO (Wenjie 问界) M9 (Six-Seater): ¥479,800 – ¥569,800 RMB ($66,200 – $78,600 USD)

The Model Y L is priced to compete directly with established luxury players like Li Auto, while offering the unique Tesla brand and tech ecosystem.

Tesla’s Bigger Picture: Declining Sales and a Look Ahead

Why this new model, and why now?

The data shows Tesla (Tesla 特斯拉) needs a new product to energize its sales in China.

According to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), from January to June of this year:

Tesla China’s wholesale sales (including exports) hit 364,500 units, a 14.6% decrease year-over-year.
Retail sales within the Chinese market were 263,400 units, a 5.4% decrease year-over-year.


Metric	Units (Jan-Jun)	YoY Change
Wholesale Sales (incl. exports)	364,500	-14.6%
Retail Sales (China market)	263,400	-5.4%

Future Product Roadmap

Third-generation Optimus robot/Next-gen Roadster: Demonstration event later this year.
Lower-priced model: On track for first half of 2025.
Robotaxi Cybercab: Planned for mass production in 2026.

The Model Y L is a clear strategy to reverse this trend by tapping into a new, high-demand market segment.

Meanwhile, CEO Elon Musk is keeping the future vision in focus.

On July 14, he teased the company’s “most important” demonstration event for later this year, which could feature the third-generation Optimus robot or the next-gen Roadster.

The product pipeline remains robust, with a lower-priced model still on track for the first half of 2025 and the Robotaxi Cybercab planned for mass production in 2026.

Investors are watching closely. Following the Model Y L announcement, Tesla’s (Tesla 特斯拉) stock jumped, at one point surging 2.46% to trade at $317.18 USD.

With its strategic pricing and premium features, the launch of the new Tesla Model Y L is set to be a defining moment for the company in China.