Tesla launches the six-seat Model Y Long Wheelbase in the US at 61,990 dollars

Tesla has launched the Model Y Long Wheelbase in the United States and Puerto Rico, a stretched, six-seat version of the world’s best-selling electric vehicle that adds a third row and marks the company’s most significant Model Y expansion since its redesign earlier this year. The Launch Series starts at 61,990 dollars and includes 12 months of Full Self-Driving (Supervised), 12 months of free Supercharging, and any exterior paint colour, interior layout, or wheel option at no additional cost. Production is underway at Giga Texas in Austin, with the first customer deliveries expected in September.

The biggest changes are inside the cabin. The second row replaces the traditional bench with heated and ventilated captain’s chairs featuring powered armrests, while the third row gets heated reclining seats with one-touch folding and child-seat anchors. Tesla says the interior offers 89 cubic feet of cargo space, enough for luggage even when all six seats are occupied.

The vehicle stretches seven inches longer than the standard Model Y, and Tesla has fitted a larger rear tailgate and bigger windows to improve visibility for passengers in every row. Performance figures include an estimated 325 miles of range and a zero-to-sixty time of under four and a half seconds, paired with adaptive damping, staggered tyres, improved acoustic glass, and a revised suspension. An upgraded airflow system is designed to keep the three-row cabin comfortable on longer journeys.

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The tech package includes a 16-inch touchscreen up front, an eight-inch display for second-row passengers, a 19-speaker audio system, and 50-watt wireless charging pads with active cooling. Tesla has also integrated its Grok AI assistant into the vehicle alongside the bundled FSD system. After the included year of Full Self-Driving expires, the subscription costs 99 dollars a month.

The launch comes at a moment when Tesla faces intensifying competition in the electric SUV segment. Rivian began delivering its R2 SUV last month at roughly 58,000 dollars, while Xiaomi’s YU7 is undercutting the standard Model Y in China by thousands of dollars with more range and features Tesla does not offer at any price point. At nearly 62,000 dollars, the Long Wheelbase is betting that a six-seat layout, bundled autonomy software, and the Supercharger network still command a premium in a market where the alternatives are multiplying fast.