A Tesla Model YL test mule has been spotted driving on Interstate 280 in the San Francisco Bay Area, marking the first time the longer-wheelbase, 6-seat SUV has been photographed on American roads.
The sighting comes despite CEO Elon Musk’s suggestion that the Model YL might never come to the US — and it strongly suggests Tesla is actively preparing the vehicle for the North American market.
First road sighting follows Giga Texas clues
The photo was shared on X by Michael R Carroll, who wrote that he captured the image on I-280 Northbound this afternoon. He described the vehicle as “a looong boi,” referencing the Model YL’s extended body compared to the standard Model Y.
Interstate 280 runs through Silicon Valley, just minutes from Tesla’s Palo Alto headquarters and its Fremont factory — a stretch of highway where Tesla has historically tested prototype vehicles before launch.
This is the strongest evidence yet that the Model YL is heading to the US market. Last month, drone pilot Joe Tegtmeyer captured footage of what appeared to be Model YL bodies-in-white wrapped in blue plastic at Gigafactory Texas, suggesting Tesla had shipped test units from China to its Austin facility. But a prototype driving on public roads signals a much more advanced stage of US preparation.
What is the Model YL?
Tesla launched the Model YL in China in August 2025 at approximately $47,000 — a stretched version of the refreshed Model Y with a 150mm (5.9-inch) longer wheelbase, 180mm (7 inches) more overall length, and a 2-2-2 captain’s chair seating configuration for six passengers.
The vehicle addresses a real gap in Tesla’s lineup, especially now that the Model X is dead. The standard Model Y now offers an optional third row in the US, but those seats are realistically only suitable for small children. The Model YL’s extended wheelbase provides genuine third-row legroom that adults can actually use – albeit not as significant as most dedicated 3-row SUV platforms, such as the EV9.
The Model YL has since expanded to Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, with European type approval already secured. Tesla also launched a 7-seat Model Y option in Europe in February, but the cramped third row on the standard wheelbase hasn’t generated the same excitement as the stretched YL variant.
In China, the Model YL accounts for roughly one-third of all Model Y sales — a strong signal of market demand for the larger format.
Musk previously cast doubt on US launch
When Tesla announced the Model YL last year, Musk said the vehicle wouldn’t begin US production until late 2026 — and added it “might not ever” come, citing the “advent of self-driving in America” as a reason the 6-seat variant would be unnecessary.
That reasoning made little sense at the time, and it makes even less sense now. Tesla is discontinuing the Model S and Model X later this year, leaving a significant gap for buyers who need more passenger capacity than the standard Model Y offers. The Cybertruck serves a different market entirely. A US-market Model YL would be the only Tesla capable of comfortably seating six people.
The fact that a prototype is now driving on Bay Area roads suggests the “might not ever” line was never a serious position.
Electrek’s Take
We’ve been saying for months that not bringing the Model YL to the US made no business sense, and this sighting confirms what we expected: Tesla is preparing the vehicle for the North American market.
The demand case is straightforward. The Model YL is outselling expectations in every market it has entered. Chinese buyers, who tend to go for Tesla’s cheaper trims, are choosing the larger variant for roughly a third of all Model Y orders. North American families, who typically drive larger vehicles than their Chinese or European counterparts, would likely embrace it even more enthusiastically.
With the Model S and X headed for discontinuation, Tesla desperately needs a vehicle in its lineup that seats more than five. The standard Model Y’s optional third row is a stopgap at best. The Model YL is the real solution, and a potential price point around $51,000–$53,000 in the US would make it competitive with three-row crossovers from Hyundai, Kia, and Volkswagen that are rapidly gaining EV market share.
The only question now is timing. Musk’s original “end of 2026” timeline for US production is looking increasingly conservative. If Tesla is already road-testing a mule in California, a late 2026 or early 2027 launch is realistic. We wouldn’t be surprised if Tesla starts taking US orders before the end of this year.
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