- The Model Y L is larger than the 5-seat Model Y and is equipped with dual motors and LG batteries.
- The Model Y L is expected to be priced at around RMB 400,000 ($55,710).
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) will launch the 6-seat Model Y L in China this fall, aiming to boost the appeal of its hot-selling SUV (sport utility vehicle) in the world's largest electric vehicle (EV) market.
The US EV maker announced the plan today on Weibo and shared two preview images, though it did not specify that it is a six-seat model.
Meanwhile, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released a new regulatory catalog today for public comment, with the Model Y L included, indicating it is a six-seat model.
The Model Y L has only one page in the catalog, with the product model number TSL6500BEVBA0.
The vehicle measures 4,976 mm in length, 1,920 mm in width, and 1,668 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,040 mm.
For comparison, the updated five-seat Model Y launched in China on January 10 measures 4,797 mm in length, 1,920 mm in width, and 1,624 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,890 mm.
The Model Y L filed by Tesla is a dual-motor model, with peak power outputs of 142 kW and 198 kW for the front and rear motors, respectively.
It uses ternary batteries supplied by South Korea's LG Energy Solution.
The Model Y L has a curb weight of 2,088 kilograms and a maximum speed of 201 kilometers per hour.
Tesla has not hinted at the price of the Model Y L, but some local media reports cited industry sources as saying that the six-seat SUV is expected to cost around RMB 400,000 ($55,710).
The five-seat Model Y is currently available in China in two variants, a rear-wheel drive version starting at RMB 263,500 and a long-range all-wheel drive version starting at RMB 313,500.
Tesla's preview of the Model Y L comes at a time when the Model Y is facing challenges in China as more competitors emerge.
Since deliveries of the Model Y produced at the Shanghai factory began in January 2021, the SUV has maintained strong deliveries in most months.
This year, however, the Tesla SUV's performance in China has weakened, with retail sales declining year-on-year in four of the first six months, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.
This has led to a decline in the Model Y's cumulative sales in China this year. From January to June, the SUV's retail sales in China totaled 171,491 units, down 17.48 percent year-on-year.
The Model 3 sedan -- another model produced at Tesla's Shanghai factory -- saw retail sales of 91,919 units in China from January to June, up 30.38 percent year-on-year.
The six-seat SUV market is currently one of the most competitive segments.
Nio's (NYSE: NIO) sub-brand Onvo began pre-sales of its three-row SUV L90 on July 10, with official launch scheduled for the end of this month and deliveries set to begin on August 1.
The L90 will first deliver the six-seat version, with the seven-seat version to follow later, according to Nio management.
The L90's pre-sales starting price, including an 85-kWh battery pack, is RMB 279,900, lower than many had anticipated, driving a significant rise in Nio's stock price over the past week.
Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) will officially launch the Li i8 on July 29, its first all-electric six-seat SUV.
Li Auto will begin accepting pre-orders for the Li i8 on July 17.
($1 = RMB 7.1806)
