CEO Elon Musk said its new Model Y variant, launched in China, may never enter production domestically, citing the rise of self-driving vehicles.

Tesla's Model Y L is "coming soon", the electric car company said on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Monday, having previously registered plans to introduce the new model in China.

The front seats in the Model Y L have a different shape. From behind, the front-row headrests appear to be completely integrated into the seat design, but they’re actually adjustable. There is a new 16-inch center touchscreen, slightly larger than the 15.4-inch unit on the current Model Y.

Tesla China has priced its six-seat Model Y variant about 30 per cent higher than its basic edition and has started accepting orders from customers who prefer spacious, long-range electric vehicles (EVs) for family use.

A brand-new Chinese electric vehicle has taken the market by storm, breaking sales records within minutes of launch. The car, designed to compete directly with Tesla’s Model Y, attracted an unbelievable rush of buyers as soon as it went on sale.

Tesla Model Y L stretches 150mm longer with genuine third-row seating, targeting Chinese rivals at 339,000 yuan as Tesla adapts to local market demands.