349,900 yuan? Tesla Model Y L enters the "family battle" in China with six seats.
Tesla has finally learned to listen, but its first response was only directed at the Chinese market.
In the past two years, "writing to Elon Musk asking for a bigger car" has almost become an internet meme in North America. Countless family users have complained about the cramped space in the Model Y, and the CEO himself once casually acknowledged the existence of this common need on social media with a simple "OK".
Everyone was waiting for the day when the promise would be fulfilled, but no one expected the answer to be revealed in such an unexpected way.
On the evening of July 16th, Beijing time, Tesla China's official Weibo suddenly posted: "Model Y L, see you in autumn." Without a press conference or a long speech, it confirmed the arrival of a long - rumored six - seat new model that will make its debut in the Chinese market with the shortest message.
This is a "heavily modified" version based on the globally best - selling Model Y. By lengthening the wheelbase and the body, it fundamentally solves the space shortage issue. It no longer tries to use a third - row seat like a "small stool" to barely serve as a 7 - seat car, but directly becomes a real six - seat car.
This Model Y with the "L" suffix is not only Tesla's response to market demand but also declares that it will enter the fierce competition in the existing market with a more practical and aggressive attitude.
The Full Meaning of the Letter "L"
To understand the essence of the Model Y L, we must start with a set of the most critical numbers.
According to the application information from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the wheelbase of the Model Y L reaches 3040 millimeters, an increase of exactly 150 millimeters compared to the current model, and it is even longer than the Model X.
This 15 - centimeter increase in the wheelbase is ultimately reflected in the total body length of 4976 millimeters, which is 179 millimeters longer than the current model, nearly 18 centimeters. At the same time, the body height has also increased by 44 millimeters, reaching 1668 millimeters, while the width remains unchanged.
It also comes with new wheels. Picture from: @Chang Yan CY
These cold numbers become intuitive in the official side - by - side comparison pictures. It is clearly visible that almost all the stretching of the Model Y L is concentrated behind the B - pillar, and the length of the rear door has been significantly enlarged.
The more crucial change occurs in the rear half of the car. The position of the C - pillar has shifted significantly backward, and the downward slope of the roof line has become gentler. This completely changes the compact and dynamic fastback posture of the original Model Y, presenting a more relaxed and stable form instead.
Size comparison between the new Model Y and the Model Y L. Picture from: @Chang Yan CY
The change in design directly serves the user experience. The longer rear door means that passengers getting in and out of the second row, especially the third row, will have a wider and more comfortable doorway and no longer have to squeeze into the car in an awkward position.
Inside the car, this 15 - centimeter increase in the wheelbase can provide more generous legroom for second - row passengers and create a real central aisle for passage. The increase in the roof height ensures that third - row passengers have practical headroom.
Tesla's engineers carried out such a "major operation" because they knew well that it was impossible to solve the problem within the body frame of the original Model Y.
The 7 - seat version of the Model Y previously launched in the North American market has been criticized by users and the media for its third - row space, which is described as "only suitable for dogs, and not even big dogs". It not only has limited space but also lacks air - conditioning vents, with almost zero practicality.
It's difficult for an adult to sit in the third row of the 7 - seat Model Y.
Therefore, the emergence of the Model Y L is not just a cosmetic upgrade but a necessary adjustment to the body structure. This is the engineering cost that Tesla has to pay to create a qualified six - seat car.
In addition to these visible size changes, there are more invisible details hidden in the application information from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The front and rear dual - motor powers of the Model Y L are 142kW and 198kW respectively, with a combined power of 456 horsepower, a slight increase compared to the current long - range version.
What's more worthy of attention is the curb weight. The weight of the Model Y L reaches 2088kg, an increase of about 93kg compared to the 1995kg of the current long - range version. This is almost equivalent to having an additional adult male passenger in the car.
For any electric vehicle, weight is the enemy of range. This additional 93 kilograms will undoubtedly affect the energy consumption and range of the Model Y L.
On the other hand, the lengthened and heavier body also raises questions about its driving experience: Will it still maintain Tesla's always - praised sharp handling and driving pleasure? Or will it become more focused on comfort and sacrifice some sportiness?
Tesla's engineers seem to have foreseen this. The application information shows that the rear wheels of the Model Y L use wider 275/45 R19 tires, while the rear wheels of the current model are 255 millimeters wide.
A wider rear wheel means a larger contact area with the ground, which is usually used to handle a heavier body or more powerful engine to provide better grip, stability, and braking performance. This can be seen as an engineering compensation to balance the impact of the increased weight.
In short, whether it is the redesign of the body or the adaptive adjustment of the powertrain and chassis, it points to one fact: the Model Y L is not a superficial facelift.
It is a systematic product solution that Tesla has developed after fully understanding the needs of the target market. And this solution is about to be put into a real - life market competition.
When Tesla Enters the "Family War"
The pricing is crucial for the success of a product. However, there are two completely different, even contradictory predictions about the price of the Model Y L in the market.
The first opinion came from an indirect challenge from a direct competitor. Li Xiang, the founder of Li Auto, predicted that the price of the Model Y L would be between 200,000 and 300,000 yuan, which is undoubtedly a very competitive price.
On the other hand, some media, considering its rumored "flagship" and "more luxurious interior" positioning, estimated the price to be around 400,000 yuan. This pricing clearly targets a more high - end market.
Putting aside these speculations and looking at the product itself, we may be able to draw a more logical conclusion.
The technical blueprint of the Model Y L is the long - range version priced at 313,500 yuan, which should be the benchmark for its pricing. On this basis, the lengthened body structure, the added third - row seats, and potential interior upgrades will, in total, increase the cost and value by 45,000 to 65,000 yuan.
This means that the final price of the new car falling within the range of 340,000 to 380,000 yuan is the most commercially logical. Li Xiang's prediction seems more like a marketing strategy to influence public opinion, while a price of 400,000 yuan may make the Model Y L too high - end for the mass market, which is not a wise move.
Regardless of the final price, Tesla has chosen a recognized industry trend. As Li Bin, the founder of NIO, said, the era of large - space pure - electric SUVs has arrived.
Picture from: @Navis - Slow Review Test
However, Tesla's counterattack doesn't seem to be limited to the SUV market. According to Cailian Press, a single - motor long - range version of the Model 3 priced at about 270,000 yuan is also about to return to the Chinese market.
This is a clear combination of strategies. Facing the continuous decline in its sales in China, Tesla has chosen to take action in two core markets simultaneously to regain the market initiative.
The return of the single - motor long - range version of the Model 3 is to strengthen its competitiveness in the 250,000 - 300,000 - yuan pure - electric sedan market, while the mission of the Model Y L is to enter the emerging large - family vehicle market driven by the Chinese family structure and face the competition from NIO, Li Auto, and XPeng.
This month, the L90 of NIO's second - brand LeDao has started pre - sales, Li Auto's first pure - electric SUV, the Li i8, is now available for reservation, and the pure - electric version of the Wenjie M8 is also planned to be launched in August.
Regardless of the final price of the Model Y L, its very existence will force all six - and seven - seat SUVs priced around 300,000 yuan to re - evaluate their pricing, configuration, and market strategies to deal with this powerful variable with brand appeal and cost advantages.
Through this product, we can also see the increasingly important strategic position of Tesla's Shanghai R & D center. It is no longer just a factory responsible for production but has the ability to lead the in - depth transformation of a model to meet the needs of the local market.
This model of validating success in the Chinese market and then promoting it globally also leaves room for imagination about Tesla's future. Those American users who left messages under Elon Musk's social media posts may one day also get this product that has been refined in the Chinese market.
However, Tesla's story always alternates between practicality and forward - looking vision. While the company is fully focused on the current market competition, Elon Musk has already redirected the public's attention to the next milestone. On Monday, he tweeted:
Just left the Tesla design studio. Most epic demo ever by end of year. Ever.
This preview has once again focused public speculation on the long - rumored new - generation Roadster or a more disruptive low - cost entry - level model.
This is the two - sided nature of Tesla at the current stage. On one hand, it uses the relatively practical Model Y L to respond to urgent market needs, and on the other hand, it has a pending press conference that continues to fuel people's imagination about the future.
Being able to switch between these two roles freely may be Tesla's most difficult - to - replicate competitive advantage.
This article is from the WeChat official account "Dong Che Hui". Author: Li Hua. Republished by 36Kr with permission.