Tesla has launched a seven-seat version of the Model Y in the United States, reintroducing a third-row seating option for its best-selling electric SUV alongside a set of minor feature updates for higher-end variants.
The seven-seat configuration is now available through Tesla’s U.S. online configurator as a $2,500 option and is offered exclusively on the Premium All-Wheel-Drive Long Range Model Y. The third row, as in earlier versions, is designed primarily for children, reflecting limited legroom and headroom.
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Tesla first announced plans for a seven-seat Model Y when the vehicle debuted in 2019, later introducing the option to the U.S. market for $3,000. The configuration saw limited demand and was intermittently offered in other regions, including Europe and China, before being removed during the Model Y design transition in early 2025.
The return of the third row follows a teaser sent to prospective buyers last year, in which Tesla highlighted “seating for up to seven and enough room for everyone’s gear.” The option was absent when Tesla launched the revised Model Y design in January 2025.
The U.S. launch differs from the extended-wheelbase “Model YL” introduced in China in August 2025. That model features a six-seat layout with second-row captain’s chairs and a longer wheelbase to improve interior space. Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has said the Model YL is not expected in the U.S. until late 2026, if at all.
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Alongside the seating update, Tesla has introduced several small changes to Premium Model Y variants. These include a new 16-inch higher-resolution central display, previously offered only on the Model Y Performance and China-market models, as well as a black interior headliner replacing the lighter material used previously. The 20-inch Helix wheels are now finished in a darker grey, and exterior badging has shifted from chrome to black.
Tesla does not follow traditional model-year update cycles, and the changes represent incremental revisions rather than a full refresh. The updates do not apply to the Standard Model Y variant introduced last year.
