Tesla’s new six-seat Model Y L, unveiled in China, may never come to the United States, according to CEO Elon Musk. In a post on X, Musk wrote that the extended version of the Model Y, which features a third row of seats, foldable rear seats, and powered armrests, won’t begin production in the U.S. until the end of next year—possibly never, given the company’s focus on self-driving technology. The Model Y L went on sale in China for $47,200 and has generated significant interest amid growing competition from local electric vehicle makers. In China, where EV adoption is much higher than in the U.S., companies like BYD, Xiaomi, and Xpeng are rapidly gaining market share with affordable, tech-rich models that include advanced driver-assistance features and voice-activated systems. The standard Model Y is already China’s best-selling SUV, but it now faces strong competition. In June, Xiaomi launched the YU7, an electric SUV priced just below the Model Y, which reportedly received nearly 300,000 preorders within an hour of its launch. Xpeng and Nio have also introduced their own rivals in recent weeks. In contrast, Chinese-made EVs are not available in the U.S. due to high tariffs, which has pushed Tesla to shift its focus toward its robotaxi and ride-hailing initiatives. The company launched an invite-only robotaxi service in Austin in June, a move Musk has described as central to Tesla’s future. Musk has previously stated that building conventional vehicles without full self-driving capability would be “pointless” in the long term. This perspective aligns with his vision that driverless cars will dominate the market within the next decade. The last new vehicle Tesla launched in the U.S. was the Cybertruck, which has struggled with sales since its 2023 debut. The company has promised an affordable new model, which Musk has referred to as “just a Model Y,” expected in the fourth quarter of 2025. Tesla did not respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.