Electric Vehicle | Tesla Rumored to Launch a 6-Seat Model Y for China, but Tesla Denies

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Electric Vehicle | Tesla Rumored to Launch a 6-Seat Model Y for China, but Tesla Denies

Date：2024-09-04

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Keyword tags： Electric Vehicle

Recently, a variety of media channels have reported on market rumors that Tesla plans to start producing a 6-seat version of the Model Y in China from the end of 2025, with plans to expand its Shanghai factory.

Model Y

According to an anonymous source cited by Reuters on September 3rd, Tesla is planning to manufacture a six-seat variant of its Model Y electric vehicle in China starting late 2025 to boost the appeal of this popular but aging model.

As early as August 29th, domestic media LatePost reported that Tesla plans to deliver two refreshed Model Y variants next year: the 5-seat refreshed Model Y with the internal project code "Juniper," is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2025; the other is a 7-seat Model Y, expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of the same year.

Industry insiders believe this move reflects the increasingly competitive market environment Tesla faces in China and its prompt response to Chinese consumer demands.

While Tesla focuses on the development of intelligent driving technology and robotaxi in the United States, the pressure it faces in the Chinese market is becoming increasingly evident: Tesla's Chinese rivals have launched several Model Y competitors this year, including the Nio ES8, Onvo L60, Li Auto L8, and Zeekr 7X. However, the 7-seat Model Y Telsa sells in the United States may not be popular in China due to its cramped third-row seating. Therefore, the market speculates that Tesla will launch a specifically designed six-seat Model Y for the Chinese market.

Zeekr 7X

On September 3rd, amidst the growing media rumors, Tesla China office denies it in a prompt response, stating that the news is false.

Previously, when spy shots of the new Model Y were exposed at the Berlin giga-factory, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had clearly stated on social media that there are no plans to release a refreshed Model Y in 2023. This further deepens the market's doubts about the authenticity of the news about the six-seat Model Y.

Statistics show that thanks to the "Project Highland" refresh in 2023, global deliveries of the Model 3 increased by 6% in the first half of this year.

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