TESLA yesterday launched the Model Y L for sale on the Chinese mainland — a six-seat SUV with a starting price of 339,000 yuan (US$47,182.29) — as the U.S. electric carmaker steps up competition with Chinese rivals. After weeks of teasing, the new Model Y L is now available on Tesla’s online configurator in China. The website lists estimated deliveries beginning in September, depending on configuration and location. Compared with the standard Model Y, the Model Y L is larger: length is extended by 179 millimeters and wheelbase by 150 millimeters, giving a more spacious cabin with a six-seat layout. The L swaps the second-row bench for two captain’s chairs and adds a 50:50 split-folding bench in the third row for a 2-2-2 configuration, compared with the standard model’s two-row, five-seat layout. Tesla rates the Model Y L at a range of 751 km under the CLTC driving cycle, which typically yields a longer range than WLTP or EPA tests. Thanks to a larger battery pack, the Model Y L achieves roughly the same range as the smaller Model Y Long Range AWD. Claimed energy consumption can be as low as 12.8 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers. To attract buyers, Tesla is offering financing incentives with the launch: down payments starting from 99,900 yuan with three years of zero interest, or 45,900 yuan with five years of low interest, along with perks such as paint credits and charging benefits. Data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed earlier this month that Tesla China’s annual sales totaled 67,866, ranking fourth behind BYD, Geely and Chang’an. Tesla is also facing sales challenges in Europe. In the U.K., July deliveries fell about 60% to 987 units, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. In Germany, the KBA reported Tesla sold 1,110 cars in July, down 55.1% year on year, while overall new EV registrations rose about 58%, Reuters said. With an annual capacity of 950,000 units, Tesla’s Gigafactory Shanghai remains its main export hub, helping the company post record deliveries in markets such as South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) also indicates a longer-range Model 3 is headed to the Chinese market. (SD-Agencies) | 