Tesla Model Y L: clues about a possible European launch

Image: Tesla

The term “Model Y L” has appeared in the source code of several European Tesla configurators. According to media reports, this entry can be found on Tesla’s websites for Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The model is not yet available for ordering there, but it may be introduced in these countries soon.

The Model Y L is an extended version of the Model Y SUV coupe, featuring three rows of seats and six seating positions. Tesla already offers this variant of its best-selling electric car in other markets. So far, the U.S. manufacturer has not confirmed a launch date, prices, or technical specifications for Europe.

The current website discovery is merely an indication of possible preparation for a European offering. No specific launch date can be determined from this, especially since it is not publicly known when the relevant code was uploaded to the European sites.

For the European market, Tesla would introduce the Model Y L as an additional multi-seater variant below its larger SUV models. Whether the specifications, range, or powertrain configuration of the European version will differ from those of existing versions in other markets remains to be seen.

Larger Battery for Europe?

Since last summer, China has offered the fully revised Model Y in a long-wheelbase version as well. According to previous reports, the Model Y L from the People’s Republic is set to receive EU approval by 2025 and be sold in Europe with a larger battery. Unlike the Chinese version, it is said to feature 4600 individual battery cells instead of 4416, providing 88 kilowatt-hours of storage capacity and a WLTP range of 681 kilometers.

The higher number of batteries in the Model Y L for Europe is said to be made possible by its increased wheelbase. When it launched in China, Tesla listed its length at 4.98 meters, 18 centimeters longer than the regular Model Y. In China, the Model Y L has slightly greater range than the all-wheel-drive version under the country’s relatively unrealistic CLTC standard, and about 10 percent less range than the rear-wheel-drive version. However, in Europe, this six-seater with larger batteries would lead with 681 WLTP kilometers of range — so far, official ranges per charge are at most 622 kilometers depending on the model.

In China, Tesla introduced the L version at a price about 8 percent higher than that of the most expensive regular-length variant. The models currently available in Germany, produced at the local “Gigafactory” in Brandenburg near Berlin, cost between 39,990 and 62,990 euros without additional features.

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About the author

Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive and financial industries. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.

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