'Model Y L, autumn's golden embrace awaits!' Tesla, after a period of silence, recently announced on its official Weibo account the imminent arrival of its new six-seater SUV.

Image source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology website

On July 16, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published the 397th batch of the "Announcement of Road Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Products" on its official website, listing Tesla's pure electric multi-purpose passenger vehicle. According to the information, this product is a 4976mm-long six-seater model.

The "China Family Development Report" released by the National Bureau of Statistics in 2024 reveals that by the end of 2023, the proportion of families with two or more children in China reached 33.7%, a nearly 10-percentage-point increase from 2016. Concurrently, J.D. Power research shows that the importance placed by middle-class families aged 30-45 on space and comfort when purchasing a car has surged from 23% in 2020 to 41% in 2025.

With the proliferation of families with two or more children and the evolution of consumer preferences, large six-seater SUV models have emerged as the favored choice for many consumers seeking to upgrade or replace their vehicles. Brands such as Li Auto, NIO, Lynk & Co, and Denza have all ventured into this segment. In 2025 alone, over a dozen six-seater models were introduced.

Tesla, renowned for its role as a market "disruptor," has finally injected fresh energy into its Chinese market product line with the Model Y L, following a period of product silence. This move will undoubtedly intensify the already fiercely competitive pure electric six-seater SUV market.

Six-Seater Market: A Battlefield of Choices

Since Li Auto delivered the Li One in 2019, six-seater new energy SUVs, offering ample space and suitability for family users, have gained popularity in the market. Today, numerous automakers, including AITO, NIO, and Great Wall Motors, have entered this segment with their respective flagship models. When considering such products, consumers heavily weigh the third-row space performance, riding comfort, and intelligent technology configuration.

Image source: Tesla

Positioned between Model Y and Model X, Model Y L is nearly 18 cm longer and boasts a 15 cm extended wheelbase compared to the existing Model Y. An all-wheel-drive model, it features ultra-long range, extra-large space, and a more premium interior, positioning it as a large six-seater luxury pure electric SUV. The new model is anticipated to launch as early as the third quarter, with an estimated price of around 400,000 yuan.

'The three seats in the second row of a seven-seater make it inconvenient to get in and out and limit the legroom in the third row,' said Mr. Wu, a father of two children, to China News Weekly. Compared to the cramped interior space of a seven-seater, a large six-seater better meets his family's vehicular needs. As one of the first Tesla Model Y owners in China, Mr. Wu has previously kept an eye on related models from Li Auto and NIO and is keenly interested in the six-seater version of Model Y L.

Li Auto and NIO have also responded to the arrival of Tesla's six-seater model (Model Y L). Li Bin, founder, chairman, and CEO of NIO, stated that with the continuous improvement of charging and swapping infrastructure and product technological innovation, the era of large-space pure electric SUVs has dawned. Shen Fei, senior vice president of NIO and president of Lidao Auto, bluntly remarked, 'The six-seater SUV market will be bustling in the second half of the year. More and more pure electric six-seater SUVs are emerging. In the past few days, three pure electric six-seater SUVs have been officially announced, highlighting the growing prominence of pure electric vehicles.'

According to NIO, the Lidao L90 will be officially launched on July 31. As a large three-row pure electric SUV with a length exceeding 5.1 meters, a wheelbase exceeding 3.1 meters, and a standard 85 kWh battery, the Lidao L90's pre-sale starting price is 279,900 yuan. If purchased through the battery rental plan, the starting price drops to only 193,900 yuan, less than 200,000 yuan.

Li Xiang, CEO of Li Auto, announced, 'An impressive six-seater pure electric SUV is on its way. Users interested in six-seater pure electric SUVs priced between 200,000 and 300,000 yuan can look forward to it.' He also revealed details about Li Auto's upcoming new model, the Li i6. The Li i8, another six-seater model, will be launched on July 29. As Li Auto's first pure electric SUV, the Li i8 carries the responsibility of pioneering Li Auto's entry into the pure electric market. In terms of configuration, the Li i8 further enhances the luxury experience, embodying the concept of 'refrigerator, TV, and large sofa.'

Faced with the arrival of Model Y L, brands such as AITO, Denza, and Lynk & Co have their own strategies: The AITO M8 pure electric version is slated for an August launch. Its Huawei ADS 3.0 intelligent driving system and extended range/pure electric dual-version layout may appeal to users with strong demands for intelligence. Denza N9 leverages 'luxury large six-seater' as its selling point, relying on BYD's electric technology and Denza's brand premium to establish a presence in the 300,000-400,000 yuan range. Lynk & Co 900 excels in loading capacity, built on the SPA Evo large electric hybrid architecture. With a length of 5240mm, a wheelbase of 3160mm, and a spacious interior of 6.16 square meters, combined with a leading class room rate of 88.2%, it can accommodate one 28-inch, one 24-inch, and two 20-inch suitcases while seating six family members, ensuring third-row passengers have 13cm of legroom.

Tesla's New 'Ace in the Hole'?

Tesla's product strength has always been formidable.

On July 21, Tesla officially announced that global sales of its Model 3 have surpassed 3 million units, making it the global sales champion of pure electric sedans for seven consecutive years. In China, Tesla Model Y has consistently led sales charts since its launch. In June alone, Model Y sold 44,848 units. Many automakers, including Xiaomi, XPeng, and NIO, have consistently regarded Tesla Model Y as a benchmark and aspirational goal.

Image source: Tesla

Data indicates that in the second quarter of 2025, Tesla produced a total of 410,244 pure electric vehicles globally and delivered 384,122 units. Among these, the Shanghai Gigafactory delivered 128,803 units, contributing 34% of Tesla's sales. This means that for every three Teslas sold, one is purchased by a Chinese consumer.

However, despite Tesla China's impressive achievements with its Model 3 and Model Y models, the singularity of its product line and the sluggishness of its updates have also led to growth bottlenecks. In the first half of 2025, Tesla's sales in the Chinese market totaled 263,400 units, a year-on-year decrease of approximately 5.4% compared to the 278,300 units sold in the same period last year; its market share shrank from a peak of 15% in 2020 to 7.6%.

It's worth noting that Tesla once attempted to launch a seven-seater version of the Model Y in the US market by adding a third-row seat to the original five-seater layout, aiming to cater to the multi-scenario needs of family users. However, this endeavor did not gain widespread market acceptance. On one hand, the optional third-row seat costs as much as $3,000 (approximately RMB 21,000), far exceeding the optional costs of models in the same class. On the other hand, due to the Model Y's limited body size (around 4.75 meters in length), the space for the newly added third-row seat is constrained, offering an experience akin to an 'emergency spare,' far from meeting the basic comfort requirements of family users.

The upcoming Model Y L, with an anticipated body length exceeding 4.9 meters and a correspondingly stretched wheelbase, addresses family users' needs for 'large space + multiple seats,' signaling a shift in Tesla's approach to this segment market from 'exploring' to 'deeply cultivating.'

Reportedly, Model Y L will debut in the Chinese market and is planned for subsequent introduction to other global markets. This model will become the flagship offering manufactured by Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory, further solidifying Tesla's position in the Chinese market.

Will Tesla replicate the success of Model Y and redefine the segment market structure once again?