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July 2 (Reuters) - Tesla TSLA.O on Thursday launched a six-seater long wheelbase version of its best-selling Model Y SUV in the U.S., aiming to boost sales of its electric vehicles after the removal of a key tax credit.

The launch version is priced at $61,990, according to Tesla's website.

Instead of launching new models, Tesla has been introducing different variants of the Model Y and its Model 3 compact sedan to stoke demand.

The company rolled out the longer version — called Model Y L — in China last year, which drove sales in the region despite stiff competition from BYD 002594.SZ and other domestic automakers.

It later expanded the sale of the model to other Asia-Pacific markets. The three-row model, which offers 325 miles of range, is expected to help revive some demand in the U.S. after a slowdown due to the removal of a federal tax credit last year.

Tesla on Thursday posted record-setting second-quarter delivery numbers that smashed past Wall Street estimates, led by a rebound in Europe, feeding hopes that in 2026 the EV maker can end its two-year streak of annual declines.