Tesla Model YL prototype spotted on California highway
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- Michael R Carroll posted a photo on X showing a Tesla Model YL test mule driving northbound on Interstate 280 in the Bay Area.
- Elon Musk had earlier said the Model YL might never be sold in the United States, citing self‑driving advances, but the road test contradicts that claim.
- Model YL launched in China in August 2025 at about $47,000, featuring a 150 mm longer wheelbase and a 2‑2‑2 six‑seat layout, and now makes up roughly one‑third of Model Y sales there.
- Giga Texas was filmed with Model YL bodies‑in‑white wrapped in blue plastic, indicating Tesla shipped test units from China to its Austin factory.
- Tesla plans to discontinue the Model S and Model X later this year, creating a gap for a six‑seat SUV that the Model YL could fill, as the standard Model Y’s optional third row is only for children.
- Electrek analysts estimate a U.S. price of $51,000–$53,000 for the Model YL, making it competitive with three‑row crossovers, and suggest a launch could happen by late 2026 or early 2027, possibly with orders before year‑end.
Why it matters: U.S. consumers gain a true six‑seat EV as Tesla moves the Model YL toward market, filling the upcoming void left by the Model S and X discontinuation. The road test also disproves Musk’s earlier claim that the model would never launch in the United States, accelerating expectations for a 2026‑27 rollout.
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