Tesla, through its Chinese arm, has just taken the necessary measures to deliver the top-tier Model 3 variant in China officially. According to CnEVPost, Tesla China has filed for the new Model 3 Performance with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
Tesla China’s filing
The inclusion of the updated Tesla Model 3 Performance in the MIIT catalog of models is reportedly the final major regulatory process it must obtain to enter the Chinese market.
The Ministry will keep public feedback open on the updated Tesla Model 3 Performance’s inclusion within five days starting May 12, 2024.
As per the report, the new Tesla Model 3 Performance included in the MIIT catalog only has one model number: TSL7000BEVBA5. It also revealed that the unit underwent production at Tesla’s Gigafactory Shanghai in Lingang.
Leaked details
The updated Tesla Model 3 Performance has a front motor that yields 137 kW power and a rear motor that adds another 265 kW, as per the filing.
It boasts a 261 km/h top speed and accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 3.1 seconds.
The new Performance variant also features a ternary li-ion battery from Tesla’s South Korean partner LG Energy Solution. Nonetheless, Tesla China is the one that manages the assembly of the battery pack.
In addition, the catalog outlines that the new Tesla Model 3 Performance is 4,724 mm long, 1,848 mm wide, and 1,430 mm tall. It also has a wheelbase of 2,875 mm.
Timeline and Pricing
The Musk-led company introduced the updated Tesla Model 3 Performance in China in late April 2024.
However, it has yet to deliver the first batch of the re-engineered electric sedan variant sometime in the third quarter of the year, according to the official online configurator.
The updated Tesla Model 3 Performance has a base price of RMB 335,900 (about $46,430). The amount is approximately 44% more expensive than the entry-level Tesla Model 3, which costs RMB 231,900 (about $32,000).
The arrival of the new Performance variant will officially complete the updated lineup of the popular Tesla electric sedan. For context, Tesla only initially launched the base Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) and the mid-tier Long Range Dual Motor All Wheel Drive (AWD) variants when it rolled out the updated Tesla Model 3 Highland in 2023.