A slightly longer version of Model Y appears on track for the U.S. market.
The Model Y L (long wheelbase) 6-seater will go on sale as soon as Tesla readies U.S. production, as reported here in April. More recent reports and reviews of the Model Y L are setting the stage for production in the U.S.
“China, Australia, and India are supplied by the factory in China, which will not supply vehicles to the U.S.,” Sam Fiorani, VP, Global Vehicle Forecasting, at AutoForecast Solutions, told me at the end of April. “Production of the Model Y L is expected to begin in the U.S. in September, which will lead to sales beginning before the end of 2026,” according to Fiorani. The Model Y L is expected to be built at the Gigafactory in Texas.
The long-wheelbase version began deliveries earlier this month in Malaysia. The L is also available to order in China, Australia, and India. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in August of 2025 that “This variant of the Model Y doesn’t start production in the US until the end of next year.”
The Model Y L “improves on the already-great refreshed Model Y in numerous ways including versatility, practicality, range, comfort, driving dynamics,” said a June 19 review in The Driven.
Bigger Model Y Fills Hole
With the Model X and Model S axed from Tesla’s U.S. lineup, the Model Y L effectively fills a gap, said Edward Loh, Head of Editorial for MotorTrend. “Why the YL for America, now? Because Tesla just ended production of the long-running Model S, and its platform-mate, the Model X, leaving a large, three-row, more-than-five-passenger, SUV-shaped hole in its lineup,” Loh said in April.
“The YL would solve this problem quite neatly, coming to the U.S. in the wake of the Model X phase-out,” he said. Loh pointed to spy photos of a Model Y L in California. “Which appears to be the first time this vehicle has been tested stateside,” he said.
Current Model Y 7-Seater Option Doesn’t Cut It
Tesla’s current 7-seater option isn’t what customers want, according to Loh. “We know because we bought one as a test vehicle in our long-term fleet. The third row is practically unusable, and it makes the second row incredibly tight,” he said, adding: “With 6 inches of overall length (mostly in the wheelbase) added to make the [Model Y L], there is a lot more head and legroom,” he said.
Tesla could be incentivized to bring another Model Y variant to the U.S. considering the vehicle’s unfailing popularity. The Model Y saw strong sales in Q1, according to a Cox Automotive April 10, 2026 report. “One out of every three EVs sold in Q1 was a Tesla Model Y,” Cox said.
Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.
