Tesla Inc. (TSLA) is giving American families more seating options. The company unveiled a 7-seater version of its Model Y crossover on Monday, adding another configuration to its popular SUV lineup just as sales momentum picks up in China.

More Seats, More Options

Tesla's North American account announced the news on X, noting that "Model Y Premium now seats up to 7." The update also includes a new black headliner and a larger 16-inch touchscreen display for Premium and Performance variants.

The third row will cost you an extra $2,500, and it's only available if you go with the Model Y Premium all-wheel drive trim. That configuration starts at $51,490 before additional fees and includes a 30-day trial of Full Self-Driving (Supervised). So if you want those extra seats, you're looking at all-wheel drive whether you need it or not.

Following China's Playbook

This isn't Tesla's first rodeo with extra seating. The company launched a 6-seater Model Y in China last year, and it turned into something of a hit. That timing proved fortunate, helping Tesla navigate some rough sales waters.

The China bet paid off spectacularly. Tesla posted its best monthly sales ever in the country during December, moving more than 93,000 vehicles. That's a 13.2% jump in sales, which is the kind of number that gets attention when you're dealing with delivery shortfalls elsewhere.

The 6-seater's success in the world's largest car market convinced Tesla to bring it to Europe sometime this year after getting the green light from EU authorities. The European version could offer a WLTP range of approximately 423 miles, which would make it a serious contender for family road trips.

European Expansion and Marketing Concerns

Tesla isn't stopping at more seats. The company is pushing to expand its Full Self-Driving technology into Europe, with the Dutch safety regulator RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority) confirming Tesla's target of February 2026 for deployment. That timeline could shift, but it shows where the company's headed.

Meanwhile, investor Gary Black of Future Fund LLC is making noise about Tesla's marketing strategy, or lack thereof. Black argued that the company can't just rely on a handful of "cheerleaders" on social media to sell its products. It's a fair point when you're trying to scale beyond the true believers.

Price Action: TSLA slipped 0.19% during after-hours trading on Monday, trading at $448.10 per share, according to market data.