Six-seater Tesla Model Y specs revealed but still in air for Australia
A six-seater Tesla Model Y with “captain’s chairs” in the second row has been launched in China, according to social media reports – but whether it will come to Australia remains to be seen.
With a starting price of 339,000 yuan (about $A71,661 at today’s rates), first deliveries of the Model Y L in China are due to take place in September. An Australian launch has not been confirmed, and a spokesperson for Tesla told Open Road that, “Model Y L is a China specific product for now, we will continue to assess new products for our market as they become available.”
Specs include a 0-100 sprint in 4.5 seconds, just a smidge slower off the mark than the Long Range All-Wheel Drive Model Y. While official WLTP figures are not yet available, the Chinese CLTC rating of 751km is typically overstated and a real -world range in the vicinity of 525km is expected. Storage space sits at the 2500 litre-mark, 25 per cent more than its five-seater sibling.
Under the skin, the Model Y L uses dual-motor AWD with a combined peak output of 340kW, powered by an NMC battery pack from LG Energy Solution.
Other details listed in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) include that the Model Y L is also notably longer than its siblings, measuring at 4,976 mm long (about 180 mm longer than the regular Model Y), 920 mm wide and 1668 mm tall. It rides on a 3040 mm wheelbase (150mm longer), providing slightly more space to accommodate second- and third-row occupants.
Other features include, according to reports on X:
- For the first time, a black headliner
- Redesigned front seats with adjustable headrests
- Additional front seat leg-rest support
- Powered arm rests and cup holders in second row
- Additional air vents on pillars: two in second row and two in third row
- Power-foldable second and third row seats
- 18-speaker Tesla Audio surround sound plus subwoofer
- Wide spoiler
- New badge styling
Beyond the numbers and cosmetics, the cabin layout shifts to a 2+2+2 format, with two actual seats in the back row rather than the cramped fold-down row Tesla has traditionally offered. This take is a more executive MPV styling popular in China, rather than simply adding a couple of kids-only seats.
— Bridie Schmidt
Whether the Model Y L will be exported to Australia is yet to be seen. There are some media reports that it may be considered as a global model, however
An announcement of the new Model Y variant was first revealed by Tesla China on Weibo, according to Reuters. The Tesla Model Y has proven popular in Australia, proving itself the most popular EV in Australia since its introduction in 2023, 2024 and in the first half of 2025. In 2024 it was the 5th best selling mid-sized SUV across all drivetrains. However, in July, its sales dipped to just 555 examples, almost one-third of the sales achieved by the BYD Sealion 7.
The refreshed Tesla Model Y, codenamed Juniper, finally landed in Australia in May 2025, rolling onto local roads with slick new aesthetics and tech-laden cabin. The very first customers began to take delivery of the Launch Series editions in Sydney that month, marking the official Australian launch. The vehicle had already been previewed earlier in the year, first on show at the Everything Electric expo in Sydney in March. It was then formally launched in Brisbane in April, setting the stage for on-road roll-out by mid-year.
Globally, sales of the Model Y have experienced sales slides. In the US Q2 2025, sales dropped 15 per cent year-on-year, and Tesla’s second-largest market, China, recorded an 11.7 per cent decline despite the refreshed update. Analysts attribute underwhelming demand partly to minimal design changes and fierce competition from notably cheaper and tech-laden Chinese EVs like Xiaomi’s YU7.
A survey by S&P Global Mobility revealed by Reuters in early August showed that Tesla’s popularity in the US has also waned, pinning the blame on CEO Elon Musk’s support of US president Donald Trump.
Whether a six-seater Model Y would bolster Tesla’s flailing Australian sales is of course unknown, however the arrival of more six-seater EVs such as the Zeekr 009 from China is certainly indicative that EV makers see an local appetite for this unproven segment.
