Image: @Tslachan on X
Tesla’s new Model Y L has just made its first appearance in the United States, spotted at the company’s Design Center in California with a sleek Light Gray premium interior (via @Tslachan). The family-focused SUV officially launched in China earlier this week, starting at 339,000 yuan (about $47,000 USD).
The sighting is especially surprising given Elon Musk’s recent comments. Just days ago, Musk said the three-row, six-seat Model Y L won’t enter production in the U.S. until late 2026, if ever. That makes this early arrival in California a curious anomaly, especially since the vehicle is currently exclusive to the Chinese market.
Tesla’s Chinese online configurator lists the Light Gray interior option, but it remains unavailable for order. According to longtime Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt), the trim will roll out at a later date. Early photos show the interior pairing cleanly with the Model Y L’s more spacious layout, which includes second- and third-row seats that can be adjusted to fit families more comfortably than the standard Model Y.
Image: @Tslachan on X
Beyond its good looks, the Model Y L has already demonstrated impressive performance. In China, the SUV recently aced the notoriously tricky “moose test” at 72 km/h with six adults onboard — showing off agility rarely seen in a family SUV of this size. Combined with a stretched wheelbase, a comfort-oriented suspension, and Tesla’s new 16-inch central touchscreen, the Model Y L appears designed to balance practicality, technology, and safety.
For now, U.S. buyers will have to wait. With Musk setting expectations for a late 2026 timeline — if the vehicle even makes it stateside — this first U.S. sighting may just be an early tease of Tesla’s latest global play in the SUV market.
