Tesla has commenced pre-sales for its redesigned Model 3 in China, featuring a refreshed exterior and interior design. The updated sedan, speculated to be referred to internally as “Highland,” was unveiled on Tesla’s Chinese website, capturing attention with its fresh appearance and improved features.
According to a recent announcement on Tesla’s Weibo account, the pre-sale for the revamped Model 3 officially began today, revealing a starting price of RMB 259,900 yuan ($35,850). This marks a noticeable increase from the previous starting price of RMB 231,900 for the Model 3 in China. The new price tag represents a 12 percent rise, amounting to an increment of RMB 28,000 over the previous model.
In China’s electric vehicle market, it’s common practice for companies to initiate pre-sales of new models, often followed by slightly lower final prices upon the official launch. It remains uncertain whether Tesla will follow this pricing strategy.
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The upgraded Model 3 boasts a dynamic aesthetic, an extended range of up to 713 kilometers, and a refined suspension system, as shared on Tesla’s Weibo platform. Notably, rear passengers now have access to an additional screen, complementing the central screen in the front of the vehicle.
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The new iteration of the Model 3 retains its dual-version offering, with the performance version being replaced by a dual-motor, long-range variant, as detailed on Tesla’s Chinese website. Tesla’s manufacturing facility in Shanghai, operational since late 2019, began producing and delivering locally-manufactured Model 3 vehicles in January 2020, followed by the Model Y in January 2021.
During 2020, Tesla provided the Model 3 in three distinct versions: an entry-level edition with single-motor rear-wheel drive, a long-range model with single-motor rear-wheel drive, and a performance version featuring dual-motor all-wheel drive.
This latest update signifies Tesla’s reintroduction of the long-range version of the Model 3 in China, now equipped with dual motors. Pre-sale prices for the base rear-wheel-drive Model 3 in China kick off at RMB 259,900, surpassing the RMB 231,900 starting price of the previous version.
For the dual-motor, all-wheel-drive, long-range edition of the Model 3, the pre-sale commences at RMB 295,900. To provide context, the previously available dual-motor, all-wheel-drive performance version of the Model 3 began at RMB 331,900.
Scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter, both versions of the new Model 3 exhibit impressive improvements in range. The entry-level version offers an estimated CLTC range of 606 kilometers, up 9 percent from the previous model’s 556 kilometers. On the other hand, the long-range variant boasts a CLTC range of 713 kilometers, surpassing the previous Model 3 Performance’s 675 kilometers.
It’s important to note that the range figures are preliminary estimates and subject to regulatory approval. For a new vehicle to enter the Chinese market, it must be included in the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s model catalogs, a process that Tesla’s revamped Model 3 is currently undergoing. Completion of this regulatory procedure is anticipated this month, aligning with expectations for fourth-quarter deliveries.
Performance-wise, the new entry-level Model 3 can accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 6.1 seconds, with a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour. Comparatively, the previous model achieved the same acceleration in the same time frame but had a higher top speed of 225 km/h.
As for the longer-range version of the new Model 3, it can achieve the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 4.4 seconds, with a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour. This contrasts with the previous Model 3 Performance, which accomplished the same acceleration in a quicker 3.3 seconds and had a higher top speed of 261 km/h.
