July 2 (Reuters) - Tesla launched a new six-seat version of its Model Y SUV in the United States on Thursday, in an effort to boost sales of electric vehicles after the cancellation of a major tax incentive that had supported demand for such vehicles.

The company's website stated that the new version was priced at $61,990 at launch.

Instead of introducing entirely new models, Tesla is moving towards offering different versions and specifications of the Model Y and its compact sedan, the Model 3, to stimulate demand.

The company launched the longer version, known as the YL model, in China last year, which helped boost sales there despite fierce competition from BYD and other local automakers.

Tesla later expanded the model's availability to other markets in the Asia-Pacific region. The three-row version, which can travel approximately 520 kilometers on a single charge, is expected to help revive demand in the US market after it slowed following the elimination of the federal tax credit last year.

The launch of the new model came after Tesla announced earlier on Thursday that it had recorded record deliveries during the second quarter that exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by a sales rebound in Europe, boosting hopes that the company could end its two-year streak of declining annual sales by 2026.