Tesla (TSLA.O) chief executive Elon Musk has said the company’s new six-seat Model Y, unveiled in China this week, may never be produced in the United States, citing the rise of self-driving technology.
The Model Y L, manufactured at Tesla’s Shanghai plant, has a longer wheelbase, three rows of seats, and is priced at roughly $47,200. It went on sale in China on Tuesday, where Tesla is facing intensifying competition from domestic electric carmakers such as BYD (002594.SZ) and Xiaomi (1810.HK). Responding to a user on X, Musk wrote: “This variant of the Model Y doesn’t start production in the US until the end of next year. Might not ever, given the advent of self-driving in America.” He did not explain why autonomous driving would make a six-seater unnecessary. Tesla declined to comment.
Three-row petrol SUVs have long been popular among American families, but producing profitable electric vehicles of similar size remains a challenge for the industry. New policies introduced by the Trump administration are also expected to raise the cost of EVs, pushing manufacturers to concentrate on smaller, cheaper models. Tesla is preparing to launch a lower-cost Model Y with fewer premium features later this year, which Musk has described simply as “just a Model Y.”
In the United States, the company is increasingly shifting its focus towards robotaxi development. A limited robotaxi service was rolled out in Austin in June, with ambitions to expand to cover half of the U.S. population by year’s end. Musk has previously told investors that producing conventional cars would be “pointless” in a self-driving future.
Next year, Tesla plans to begin production of the Cybercab, a dedicated two-seat robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals.
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit....
Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior U.S. envoys in the Gulf, saying any contact will take place through Qatari mediators. Meanwhile, Steve Wit...
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both...
German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of aiding genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, a...
South African police arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-migrant protests on Tuesday (30 June), as demonstrations across the country ...
On 1 July, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit.
Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior U.S. envoys in the Gulf, saying any contact will take place through Qatari mediators. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met in Doha with Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
German prosecutors have arrested a German-Rwandan national on suspicion of aiding genocide and 25 counts of murder during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, authorities said on Wednesday (1 July).
South African police arrested more than 900 people during nationwide anti-migrant protests on Tuesday (30 June), as demonstrations across the country turned violent in some areas, although most remained peaceful.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
The U.S. and Iran have agreed to 'stand down' and resume technical talks, allowing vessels allowed to move freely under the interim peace deal, a U.S. official said.
Iran has ruled out direct talks with senior U.S. envoys in the Gulf, saying any contact will take place through Qatari mediators. Meanwhile, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met in Doha with Qatar's PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
The wife and children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were among around 1,700 people who died when two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week.
Mexico ended their 40-year wait for a World Cup knockout win, while Erling Haaland sent Norway through and Kylian Mbappé fired France into the last 16.
Britain said on Tuesday (30 June) it could intervene in Paramount Skydance Corp’s proposed $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, potentially delaying one of the largest media mergers in recent years despite approvals from the United States, China and several other major markets.
Science does not usually have much to do with K-pop. But a postgraduate student in southern China has found a way to bring the two together, and the result is now permanently written into the scientific record.
The wife and children of Argentine footballer Lucas Trejo were among around 1,700 people who died when two earthquakes struck northern Venezuela last week.
Manhattan prosecutors have moved to drop a third-degree rape charge against movie producer Harvey Weinstein after his accuser said she no longer wished to testify. The decision ended what could have been a fourth New York trial in the long-running sexual assault case.
Villagers took part in Dragon Boat Festival celebrations on 24 June in Foshan, Guangdong province, where traditional racing was held on the narrow, winding Diejiao River.
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