Tesla launched their latest vehicle, the Model Y L, in China this week, and while we were sure the six-seat version of the electric SUV would eventually come to North America, CEO Elon Musk has now given us a timeline of when to expect it. However, Musk also said it may never make its way to Canada or the U.S. amid the company’s push toward autonomous driving.
The Model Y L, now available to order in China with the first deliveries expected next month, is designed to appeal to families and larger households with its six-seat configuration. Featuring second row captain’s chairs and a more spacious third-row, the SUV offers 327 miles (526km) of estimated EPA range, a 0–62 mph time of 4.5 seconds, and upgraded technology such as continuous variable damping suspension, making it an ideal candidate for North America and its love for larger SUVs.
A deep dive into a recent firmware update confirmed the Model Y L was going to be available globally, but the timeline was uncertain. According to a post by Musk on X, we now know the Model Y L won’t enter production in North America until the end of 2026, pushing a potential launch into early 2027.
However, Musk also noted those plans could be cancelled if the company is able to achieve Full Self-Driving (FSD) Unsupervised.
This variant of the Model Y doesn’t start production in the US until the end of next year.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 20, 2025
Might not ever, given the advent of self-driving in America.
Musk’s decision to pin the Model Y L launch in North America on autonomy mirrors his other recent decision to cancel the $25K model. That decision was made in order for the company to focus on the robotaxi platform, or the Cybercab, which according to the most recent update from Tesla, may enter production in 2026.
A lot can change between now and then, but it seems hard to imagine that Tesla’s self-driving technology would be at a point to warrant the cancellation of the Model Y L for the North American market. Even if the company is able to achieve FSD Unsupervised, Tesla still has to deal with the regulator barriers to get approval for its use across the continent, something which seems unlikely to happen by the end of next year.
And even if it was, this more spacious version of the Model Y is perfectly suited for robotaxi service.
Would you buy a Model Y L if it were available in North America? Let us know in the comments below.
