Tag: Model Y L

  • Tesla Sales Decline as Competition from BYD Grows in China

    Tesla Sales Decline as Competition from BYD Grows in China

    Key Takeaways

    1. Tesla’s vehicle sales in China fell to the lowest level since 2022, with only 26,006 cars sold in October, a 36% decrease from the previous year.
    2. The initial popularity of the new six-seat Model Y L and trims of Model 3 and Model Y did not sustain demand, leading to a sharp decline in sales.
    3. Local electric vehicle manufacturers are intensifying competition by offering cheaper models with more features, impacting Tesla’s market position.
    4. Global sales challenges are evident as BYD, a major competitor, outsold Tesla significantly in key European markets, further distancing Tesla from its brand presence.
    5. In response to declining sales, Tesla is introducing various financing options and incentives, including rental programs and purchase credits, to boost sales in the US market.

    Tesla’s vehicle sales in China have dropped to a level not seen since 2022. Even though the new six-seat Model Y L was initially well-received, along with new trims of the Model 3 and Model Y, Tesla only managed to sell 26,006 cars in China in October.

    Significant Decline in Sales

    This marks the lowest sales figure for Tesla in a month over the past three years, showing a 36% decrease compared to the same time last year. In September, when demand for the Model Y L was high, Tesla sold 63% more vehicles, indicating a decline in interest after the first wave of buyers completed their purchases. While it’s true that Tesla exported 28% more vehicles from China in comparison to last October, the total export volume is down 8% for the year overall.

    Rising Competition and Market Trends

    The surge in competition from local electric vehicle manufacturers, which provide cheaper options with more features, is putting pressure on Tesla. Additionally, the popularity of Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) in China complicates things further. EREVs not only come with larger batteries but also include a gasoline generator to reduce range anxiety. This trend is so appealing to consumers that even companies that were originally focused on electric vehicles are now either producing or considering EREVs.

    Global Sales Challenges

    In other regions where Tesla faces competition from Chinese brands, sales are also declining. BYD, the largest EV manufacturer in the world, is now closely competing with Tesla in Europe. BYD sold seven times as many cars as Tesla in the UK and four times more in Germany, which are two of the biggest markets for plug-in vehicles. This trend suggests that the European market is continuing to distance itself from the Tesla brand, partly due to Elon Musk’s political actions earlier this year.

    With the federal tax credit in the US coming to an end, Tesla is rolling out various traditional financing options, leasing deals, and free upgrade offers. The company has also come up with creative strategies to boost sales, including a rental option that features free Supercharging and Full Self-Driving (FSD) for just $60 per day. If a customer decides to purchase a Tesla after a 7-day rental period available at select locations, they will receive a $250 purchase credit as a bonus. Whether these incentives can counteract the sales decline in the US, similar to what’s observed in markets facing competition from Chinese brands, remains to be seen.

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    Tesla Sales Decline as Competition from BYD Grows in China

     

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  • Tesla China Q3 Ends Strong with 19,300 Model Y Registrations

    Tesla China Q3 Ends Strong with 19,300 Model Y Registrations

    Key Takeaways

    1. Tesla registered 19,300 new insurance registrations in China during the last week of Q3 2025, marking an 11.9% increase from the previous week.
    2. The total registrations for Q3 2025 reached 66,250, which is 8.7% lower than Q3 2024 but a 26.9% increase from Q2 2025.
    3. Tesla is currently 6.4% behind last year’s registration figures for the year.
    4. The newly launched six-seat Model Y L was the top-selling vehicle of the week, contributing about 4,000 registrations.
    5. Delivery timelines for the Model Y L are extended to November, indicating strong consumer interest as production increases at Giga Shanghai.

    Tesla finished the last week of Q3 2025 in China with 19,300 new insurance registrations from September 22 to 28. Insights shared by Roland Pircher (@piloly) on X, who typically studies Tesla data, shows this number is an 11.9% rise from the previous week’s 17,300 units. This was the highest weekly total for the quarter.

    Quarterly Overview

    For the entire quarter, Tesla achieved 66,250 registrations in China. Although this number is 8.7% lower than Q3 2024, it shows a 26.9% increase compared to Q2 2025. So far this year, Tesla is still 6.4% behind last year’s figures, but last week was notably its third-best week of 2025.

    Best-Selling Vehicle

    The top-selling vehicle of the week was the newly launched six-seat Model Y L, which hit the market in China on August 19 and began deliveries in early September. This extended-wheelbase version added about 4,000 registrations last week, making up roughly 20% of Tesla’s total. As delivery timelines on Tesla China’s site are now extended to November, it seems that interest in this family-oriented crossover is holding strong.

    If this trend keeps up, the Model Y L could become a key player as we move into Q4, especially with Tesla increasing production at Giga Shanghai.

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  • Tesla Model Y L Introduces Seat-Aware ‘Hey, Tesla’ Command

    Tesla Model Y L Introduces Seat-Aware ‘Hey, Tesla’ Command

    Key Takeaways

    1. Tesla’s in-car voice commands have been upgraded to sophisticated AI assistants capable of managing various tasks.
    2. In China, Tesla’s AI assistant uses local chatbots like DeepSeek instead of Grok due to regulations.
    3. The new Model Y L features a three-row SUV design, enhancing the AI assistant’s usability for all passengers.
    4. The “Hey, Tesla” wake phrase enables spatial awareness, allowing passengers to interact with the AI assistant based on their seating position.
    5. The AI assistant can recognize which seat activated it, preventing accidental commands and improving user experience.

    Tesla has upgraded its in-car voice commands to sophisticated AI assistants capable of engaging in conversations and managing tasks like adjusting windows or controlling the air conditioning.

    Local Partnerships in China

    In China, Tesla’s AI assistant doesn’t utilize Grok due to local regulations. Instead, the company has teamed up with domestic chatbots that are powered by unique generative AI models, such as DeepSeek.

    Introduction of Model Y L

    With the launch of its first genuine three-row SUV, the larger Model Y L, which may only be available in China, Tesla is demonstrating the innovative ways its AI assistant can be helpful.

    For passengers seated in the third row, who are far from the car’s touchscreens, operating the A/C, changing songs, or checking the weather can be a challenge. To address this, Tesla has introduced a new wake phrase that activates the virtual AI assistant, allowing everyone in the vehicle to engage in informative discussions or use voice commands for various functions.

    The Wake Word Feature

    Similar to other virtual assistant services like Google or Alexa, the phrase “Hey, Tesla” has been added to the Model Y L in China to trigger the localized AI assistant.

    What sets this apart is that the “Hey, Tesla” phrase incorporates spatial awareness for each seat in the car, as illustrated at the 6:00 minute mark in the Model Y L video review below. For example, kids in the third row can wake the chatbot, but they can’t issue commands if that option is disabled in the settings. This prevents drivers of the Model Y L from facing sudden changes in destination or accidental music skips, which are common with children.

    The AI assistant can also identify which seat activated it and continue conversations or respond to other passengers. The new spatial awareness features are integrated into a Voice Recognition menu that enables the Model Y L to listen and respond continuously, even without hearing the wake word, similar to how an Amazon Echo smart speaker operates.

    The “Hey, Tesla” command is likely to be added to the Grok assistant used in U.S. vehicles eventually, but for now, Tesla has concluded that the larger Model Y L with its three rows of seats will gain the most from this new wake phrase.

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  • Elon Musk Suggests Tesla Model Y Might Skip North America Launch

    Elon Musk Suggests Tesla Model Y Might Skip North America Launch

    Key Takeaways

    1. Tesla has started taking orders for the extended Model Y L in China this week.
    2. CEO Elon Musk hinted that the Model Y L might never be produced in North America due to a focus on Robotaxi development.
    3. The 6-seat Model Y L was viewed as a potential electric family vehicle, with a prototype seen in Germany.
    4. Musk believes the introduction of Robotaxis could render the launch of new car models unnecessary.
    5. Tesla previously scrapped the ‘Model 2’ to prioritize autonomous Robotaxis or the Cybercab.

    Tesla has started taking orders for the extended Model Y L in China this week. Despite this, CEO Elon Musk has hinted that the car, which is expected to begin production in North America by the end of 2026, might never actually hit the market because of the focus on Robotaxi development.

    Musk’s Comments on Production

    Musk shared his thoughts in response to a fan on X, who remarked that he wouldn’t discuss Tesla’s worldwide strategies concerning the Model Y L. He stated, “This version of the Model Y doesn’t start production in the US until the end of next year. It might not ever happen, considering the rise of self-driving technology in America.”

    Market Appeal and Prototype

    The 6-seat Model Y L seemed like a great option for those in the market for an electric family vehicle. A prototype was seen in Germany, leading many to think it could be sold in Europe. However, Musk’s recent comments on X appear to have squashed any expectations of this SUV making its way onto American streets.

    Robotaxi’s Impact on New Models

    Musk is hopeful that the newly introduced Robotaxi will become widely available within a year, making the launch of a new car unnecessary. While this is open to discussion, it wouldn’t be the first instance where Musk has tied the future of a new model to self-driving capabilities. Reuters reported in June that Tesla had scrapped the highly anticipated ‘Model 2’ to concentrate on the autonomous Robotaxis or the Cybercab.

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  • Model Y L Review: Automatic Flat Folding Rear Seats for Cargo

    Model Y L Review: Automatic Flat Folding Rear Seats for Cargo

    Key Takeaways

    1. Comfortable Seating: The Model Y L features reclining captain’s chairs in the second row with heating and ventilation, and the third row has more head and knee room compared to the previous model.

    2. Increased Dimensions: The Model Y L is seven inches longer with a flatter rear design, providing improved headroom for backseat passengers.

    3. Flexible Cargo Space: The rear seats can fold down flat with a push of two buttons, allowing for versatile configurations for passengers and cargo.

    4. Enhanced Practicality: The Model Y L has functional trunk space, with features like a reading light, air conditioning vent, cupholder, and USB-C charging port for third-row passengers.

    5. Automatic Folding Seats: The third row and captain’s chairs can fold flat automatically, significantly increasing cargo space and addressing previous complaints about the Model X’s limitations.

    The Model Y L has received its first reviews, and it seems that Tesla has significantly improved the comfort for passengers and the available cargo space, marking its debut as a true 3-row SUV.

    Comfortable Seating Features

    In the second row, the Model Y L features two captain’s chairs that recline 125 degrees and come equipped with both heating and ventilation. The third row, while only heated, offers more head and knee room compared to the 7-seat Model Y, which previously only had two child seats crammed into the trunk area.

    Enhanced Dimensions and Flexibility

    With an additional seven inches in length, the Model Y L boasts a flatter rear design that provides more headroom for adults in the back seats. Unlike the Model X’s six-seat arrangement, the third-row seats in the Model Y L can fold down flat, just like the second-row seats. This is accomplished with just a push of two buttons, allowing for various configurations depending on how many passengers and how much cargo are being transported.

    Cargo Space and Practicality

    When all six seats are in use, the trunk space of the Model Y L can accommodate a few small suitcases. The initial reviews detail the trunk’s dimensions when the back seats are folded down or the available legroom for those in the third row. In addition to a spacious area, passengers will benefit from a reading light, an air conditioning vent, a cupholder, and a phone holder with a USB-C charging port.

    For convenience, there are buttons located on the left side of the trunk wall that control each of the four rear seats. The Model Y L features an automatic seat folding system, though it differs for the third row compared to the autofolding system found in the 2026 Model Y refresh. The two captain chairs in the second row fold down completely flat, aided by the front seats that shift slightly forward to accommodate the headrests.

    Versatile Third Row

    The third row also folds flat automatically, but instead of moving the captain’s chairs forward, the headrests drop down, allowing the two seats to lie completely flat. As demonstrated in the Model Y L review video, this setup creates ample cargo space that can fit a larger air mattress than the inflatable type available for the Model Y on Amazon.

    This feature may be even more significant than the fact that the third-row seats can now comfortably seat adults. Many Tesla enthusiasts have long desired a 3-row SUV, and one of their main complaints about the comparable Model X was the inability of the rear seats to fold down, limiting cargo capacity, which the new Model Y L addresses successfully.

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  • Tesla Model Y Redesign: Folding Seats, Bigger Battery, 3-Row SUV

    Tesla Model Y Redesign: Folding Seats, Bigger Battery, 3-Row SUV

    Key Takeaways

    1. Spacious Design Enhancements: The six-seat Model Y L features a longer wheelbase and taller frame, improving legroom and headspace with captain chairs in the first two rows and standard seats in the third row.

    2. Unique Seating Configuration: The Model Y L will have individual, separated seats in the third row, allowing for more comfort and legroom compared to the six-seat Model X.

    3. Improved Headroom and Specs: The vehicle’s increased height provides better headroom for back passengers, and it’s expected to include a larger battery with up to 90 kWh capacity and dynamic electromagnetic suspension for enhanced ride comfort.

    4. Cargo Space Concerns: Previous Tesla three-row SUVs struggled with cargo space; the Model Y L may need flexible seating options, like folding down second-row captain chairs, to improve storage capacity.

    5. Promising Future Developments: Tesla China hints that the Model Y L will be a versatile “full-scene” SUV, potentially allowing all rear seats to fold flat automatically, enhancing its functionality for transporting passengers and cargo.

    Tesla enthusiasts have been eagerly waiting for a proper three-row SUV, but the electric vehicle manufacturer now claims that the closest option will be the Model Y L.

    Spacious Design Enhancements

    The new six-seat Model Y, which expands on the original five-seat version, boasts a wheelbase that is seven inches longer and a taller frame. Tesla has made significant improvements instead of simply adding extra child seats in the trunk and labeling it a family SUV.

    Passengers can expect enhanced legroom and headspace, with four captain chairs in the first two rows and two standard-sized seats in the third row, which differ from those found in the six-seat Model X.

    Unique Seating Configuration

    A source from Tesla China, known for accurate information about vehicles from Giga Shanghai, has revealed that the seating layout of the Model Y L will be unprecedented for Tesla.

    The second row will still feature two captain chairs with armrests, but the third row will now include individual separated seats. Unlike the six-seat Model X, where the third row has two seats connected, the new design allows a taller passenger to comfortably sit in the middle with more legroom.

    In the Model Y L, the second-row seats will be motorized, allowing for adjustments to the spacing between the rows. The seats are said to have a completely new design and ventilation, though it remains unclear if the third row also has this feature.

    Improved Headroom and Specs

    The third row, however, is reportedly positioned lower than the other two rows. With the increased height of the vehicle and the redesigned C-pillar, passengers in the back may enjoy similar headroom as those in the front.

    The specifications of the Model Y L are expected to include a larger battery, offering up to 90 kWh of nominal capacity, which is a 20% boost over the current Model Y battery. Additionally, Tesla has fitted the Model Y L with dynamic electromagnetic suspension to enhance ride comfort for passengers.

    Cargo Space Concerns

    But what about cargo space? The issue with Tesla’s previous attempts at three-row SUVs is that they fall short in size for that category. They struggle to fit more than five adult passengers and enough cargo in the trunk, leaving limited storage space.

    Certainly, a compromise might work if all the rear seats could be folded flat, allowing for either passengers or cargo. Fans are open to this idea, yet Tesla only allows the third bench in the Model X to fold down, which doesn’t create sufficient cargo space.

    If the captain chairs in the second row of either the six-seat Model X or Model Y L could fold down, it would transform Tesla’s so-called “3-row SUV” lineup into something genuinely functional.

    Promising Future Developments

    This is exactly what Tesla China seems to be suggesting. Grace Tao Lin, a senior executive managing government affairs and marketing in Greater China, mentioned on social media that the six-seat Model Y L will be a “full-scene 6-seat luxury SUV.”

    Insiders familiar with the local automotive terminology now interpret “full scene” as an all-purpose vehicle in China, or as a “vehicle for all scenarios,” hinting at versatile capabilities.

    In essence, the Model Y L is shaping up to be a three-row SUV designed to transport both passengers and cargo, likely by allowing all four rear seats to fold flat. The rumored capability of adjusting the second row also adds to this confirmation.

    The 2026 Model Y has the feature to fold its back seats at the push of a button, which also moves the front seats forward to create a completely flat surface, perfect for accommodating a Model Y air mattress.

    Tesla may be gearing up for something similar with the Model Y L, potentially enabling all four rear seats to fold flat automatically, which would be a welcome enhancement.

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