AUSTIN, Texas — Tesla appears increasingly likely to bring its stretched, six-seat Model Y L to the United States, with reports pointing to production starting at Gigafactory Texas as soon as September and sales opening before the end of 2026.
The signals have been building. A Model Y L test mule was recently photographed on Interstate 280 in the San Francisco Bay Area — the first time the longer-wheelbase SUV has been seen on American roads — near Tesla's historic prototype-testing stretch by its Fremont factory. That sighting follows a wave of Tesla product momentum as the company refreshes and expands its lineup.
Filling a real gap
The timing makes strategic sense. Tesla is discontinuing the Model S and Model X later this year, leaving the standard five-seat Model Y — and its optional but cramped third row — as the largest passenger vehicle in the lineup. A U.S.-market Model Y L would be the only Tesla capable of comfortably seating six adults.
According to reports citing an AutoForecast Solutions analyst, U.S. production of the Model Y L is expected to begin in September at Gigafactory Texas, leading to sales before year-end. That aligns with CEO Elon Musk's earlier guidance that the vehicle could reach America in late 2026.
What makes the Model Y L different
Launched in China in August 2025 at about $47,000, the Model Y L stretches the refreshed Model Y with a 150mm (5.9-inch) longer wheelbase and roughly 180mm (7 inches) of added length, enabling a 2-2-2 captain's-chair layout for six passengers. The extra length delivers genuine third-row legroom that adults can actually use, rather than the child-sized bench on the standard car.
The format has proven popular: in China, the Model Y L accounts for roughly one-third of all Model Y sales, and the variant has since expanded to Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia with European type approval secured. A U.S. price point around $51,000 to $53,000 would put it head-to-head with three-row crossovers from Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen.
Riding a demand wave
The push comes as Tesla rides its best delivery quarter in two years, with 480,126 vehicles delivered in Q2 and strong international demand. A larger family SUV would give the company another growth lever heading into 2027, particularly with American families that tend to favor bigger vehicles.
As Teslarati reported, camouflaged Model Y L units have already been spotted under wraps in the U.S. — the kind of pre-launch pattern Tesla typically shows just months before a vehicle goes on sale. If the September production timeline holds, American buyers could be placing orders for Tesla's roomiest SUV yet before the year is out.
