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Tesla's Upgraded Model Y Is A Stretch
Revealed for the Chinese market, the long-wheelbase Model Y comes with seats for six - but will it come stateside?
The Tesla Model Y electric SUV just got a major overhaul for 2025, updating its exterior and interior design while also improving performance. Now there will be another update to the Model Y lineup later this year, with a new extended "L" version that adds more room for additional seating and cargo, as well as some additional performance over the standard Y. The early details suggest it's intended only for the Chinese market, but there may be clues that suggest the new Tesla Model Y L could come stateside.
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2026 Tesla Model Y L Specs And Details
New details and images reportedly showing the new, larger Tesla Model Y L have emerged on China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) website, according to CarScoops and AutoNews. The new info posted this week indicates the new L model gets a stretched wheelbase that is 5.9 inches longer than the existing Model Y (113.8 inches), adding more interior room for a third row of seating.
Overall, the Model Y L is 7.3 inches longer than the regular version. The exterior design has naturally warped to fit these new dimensions, and there are other changes over the standard Y; the images appear to show a new paint color, a new wheel design, new seat designs, and a new rear spoiler design.
Inside, the new L will only seat six, which indicates there will be captain's chairs in the second row instead of a three-seat bench. It's possible, if not very likely, that Tesla will offer a 7-seat version in the future for some markets, and it's not clear why they aren't now.
Here are all the changes made to Tesla's best-selling crossover.
The existing Model Y offers a tight third row package for $2,000, expanding seating to seven already (and the standard Y currently starts at $46,990). The other major update to the Model Y L is additional power, as it'll put down 455 horsepower compared to the standard Y's 443 hp - although these are specs for the Chinese market, so if it does come here, there's no guarantee those figures will carry over. It's also not yet clear if it will be offered in both rear- and all-wheel drive like the standard Y is.
Coming At The Right Time
Tesla has reportedly confirmed some details and images on Chinese social media, so the official reveal is expected by the end of this year. The expanded Y lineup comes at a crucial time for Tesla in the Chinese market, as it has rapidly lost market share to local rivals and has had to stop taking local orders for its Model S and Model X vehicles due to new tariffs.
Tesla has finally made the new Model Y available in America, but it's only available in one form: Launch Series.
Model Y sales were also down in the first half of 2025 in the US, though Tesla claims that was due to the changeover to the updated version, and it "should" rebound in the second half of the year. A new, bigger version would likely be a welcome option to US customers, but we'll have to wait and see. A leak from June indicated the automaker would bring the L stateside, but it's likely only to be produced in China and will have to face US tariffs.
Source: CarScoops; AutoNews