In April, reports from China suggested Tesla’s Shanghai factory was going to start production of a new 7-seater version of Tesla’s Model Y in the coming months.
Now, Greentheonly, a Tesla app updates guru on X, has spotted a 6-seater variant of the Model Y in the latest firmware version.
According to the latest sighting in the code, it’s expected to be produced in other parts of the world, including the US.
In the post after reviewing the latest Tesla firmware, Greentheonly said: “The much rumored about 6-seater Model Y made an appearance in the firmware. Unlikely to be China-only as some of the speculations said.”
This also highlights that multiple configurations of the new Model Y, which was – by a long way – Australia’s best-selling EV in May 2025, are on the way.
It’s also not the first time that Tesla has offered 6 or 7 seat options to buyers in their vehicle line up. Previously, Tesla offered the Model X in the local market with those configurations.
For the Model Y, Tesla has offered a 7-seat option but only for customers in the US.
The expected upcoming 6 and 7-seater cars’ production will be a milestone as it would also mean that various new Tesla markets could be in line to receive this model from Shanghai, including many parts of Europe, Asia and the ANZ region.
In Australia, there are few EV models available with 7-seats, which could deter some family car buyers from considering EVs as an option.
If this model is to include new version with three rows and an extended wheelbase for more cabin space, it could appeal to those buyers.
The list of 6 and 7-seater EV models is expected to grow with current models like Kia EV9 seeing competition from brands like Hyundai, Xpeng, Zeekr and potentially Tesla in the next 12 months.
Even BYD announced a new model, pencilled in for 2026 with the BYD Sealion 8, although it’s got a limited EV-only range, given its PHEV drivetrain.
One thing that many of those vehicles won’t be able to match is Tesla’s solid supercharger network, which is growing quite quickly across the country, with the latest data from carloop showing over 120 sites now open nationally.
This would make family road trips in the new Model Y with more seats a whole lot easier.
The latest development is quite interesting, given Tesla’s next products are expected to be in the more affordable range. With the expected production of those models imminent in the coming weeks, these new configurations shouldn’t be too far behind those.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.