Tesla’s mid-size electric SUV was first delivered in 2015, but the nameplate began production as a 2016 model-year vehicle. It emerged from the company’s early vision of a family-focused crossover that would combine long-range battery-electric driving with seating flexibility and a distinctly futuristic design. The vehicle is notable for its raised ride height, expansive cabin packaging, and especially its falcon-wing rear doors, which became one of the most recognizable features in Tesla’s lineup.
From the start, this nameplate sat between practicality and performance in a way that helped define Tesla’s brand image. It offered three-row capability in a segment traditionally dominated by gasoline-powered luxury SUVs, while also showcasing the company’s software-centric approach to vehicle development. Over time, it became one of Tesla’s key mainstream models and a frequent reference point in the EV market because it brought a larger, family-oriented body style into the premium electric space early in that segment’s growth.
The model has remained in continuous production since its introduction, with Tesla periodically updating it through hardware revisions and over-the-air software improvements rather than replacing it with a new nameplate. Its long production run and strong brand recognition make it one of the company’s most important vehicles historically, both as a commercial product and as an example of Tesla’s approach to rethinking the modern SUV.