Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that the newly launched Model Y L, a stretched six-seater version of the company’s best-selling SUV, won’t begin production in the U.S. until the end of 2026 — and possibly not at all.
Responding on X to speculation about an international rollout, Musk said: “This variant of the Model Y doesn’t start production in the US until the end of next year. Might not ever, given the advent of self-driving in America.”
The Model Y L debuted earlier this week in China, where it starts at 339,000 yuan (about $47,000 USD). The three-row SUV offers an estimated 327-mile EPA range, a longer wheelbase, adjustable second- and third-row seats, and a 16-inch central touchscreen — making it Tesla’s first true family-focused SUV. Orders opened immediately in China, with more than 35,000 reservations reported on launch day. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in September 2025.
For now, the Model Y L remains a China-exclusive, though Europe is a likely candidate for expansion since prototypes were previously spotted testing in Germany. Tesla is likely gauging demand in China before deciding on a wider release.
Musk’s comments suggest U.S. buyers will have to wait at least another year for the three-row SUV, and there’s no guarantee it will arrive at all. The CEO hinted that the company’s focus on autonomous driving may reduce the need for such vehicle variants in the American market.
Monday’s Model Y L launch followed last week’s unveiling of the Model 3+, Tesla’s longest-range EV to date in China. With competition heating up from BYD and other Chinese automakers, Tesla is leaning on new variants to bolster its lineup overseas, even as U.S. customers are told to wait.
