Tesla has officially unveiled two new variants of its best-selling electric vehicles in China: the Model 3 Plus and a long-rumoured stretched Model Y L with a real third row. Both launches come as Tesla faces intensifying competition in the world’s largest EV market, with Chinese automakers like BYD, NIO, and even Xiaomi in full-on price war mode.
The new Model Y L, which Tesla said in a post on Weibo will launch this fall in China, is the company’s most practical take on a family SUV yet. It’s 7 inches longer and nearly 2 inches taller than the regular Model Y, with a stretched wheelbase to support a six-seat layout across three rows — a configuration that Tesla software quietly hinted at last month.
This version also introduces a new light gold exterior paint, redesigned C-pillar and rear, a new spoiler, and refreshed seats and wheels, according to sales license applications Tesla filed with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Under the hood (and rear), it features dual motors rated at 142 kW in the front and 198 kW at the rear, for a combined 340 kW (456 hp). Top speed is capped at 201 km/h (125 mph), and the curb weight lands at 2,088 kg.
With a roomier interior and more usable third row, the Model Y L finally fills the massive gap between the standard Model Y and the far pricier Model X. In a market now brimming with affordable three-row EVs like the NIO Onvo L90, Tesla’s offering could strike the right balance of price and practicality.
Image: Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
Meanwhile, the Model 3 Plus is a new take on the rear-wheel drive sedan, featuring a higher-capacity NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) battery from LG. While Tesla hasn’t disclosed official range numbers yet, the upgraded chemistry is expected to offer significantly longer range than any of the current Model 3 variants. The EV remains rear-wheel drive with a single motor, but uses the same more expensive battery tech usually reserved for Tesla’s Long Range or Performance trims.
Both vehicles are now listed in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology registry, suggesting deliveries could begin soon. While Tesla hasn’t announced any plans to bring these new variants to North America yet, strong demand in China could easily prompt the company to expand availability more broadly — especially if the Model Y L and Model 3 Plus prove competitive against the country’s fast-growing domestic EV makers.
