Tag Archives: Model 3

News

Tesla Prepares Long-Range Model 3+ for China — Could a Global Launch Follow?

Tesla appears to be quietly working on a new variant of its popular compact sedan—the Model 3+, a version promising significantly greater range than current offerings. This new development comes via Chinese government filings, first reported by Car News China, and has since sparked widespread speculation about its potential rollout beyond China.

A New Long-Range Contender

According to documents from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Tesla Model 3+ will be a rear-wheel-drive model powered by a single rear-mounted motor, paired with a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery supplied by LG. This is a notable shift from the lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries used in the base Chinese-market Model 3, and could suggest Tesla is aiming for serious improvements in driving range.

Interestingly, the Model 3+ will reportedly use the same electric motor found in the standard Chinese Model 3. This unit delivers 260 horsepower, a modest figure when compared to the 295 hp motor in the U.S. base model. However, while the reduced power output might seem like a drawback, it could play a pivotal role in increasing the vehicle’s efficiency and, by extension, its range.

Battery Mystery: Familiar Capacity or Something New?

Details surrounding the Model 3+’s battery capacity remain unconfirmed. Industry insiders speculate it may borrow the 78.4 kWh pack from the existing Long Range AWD variant, or perhaps even the 79.7 kWh battery used in the U.S. Long Range RWD version.

If paired with the more efficient, lower-output motor, the Model 3+ could potentially set a new benchmark for Tesla’s longest-range electric vehicle. In China, where the optimistic CLTC testing cycle reigns, the current Long Range AWD Model 3 is rated for 753 kilometers. By contrast, the U.S. EPA cycle gives that same model 557 kilometers, albeit with significantly more power.

A Global Opportunity?

While the Model 3+ has so far only been mentioned in the context of the Chinese market, its use of NMC batteries—already present in U.S.-market Teslas—raises an intriguing possibility: Could the Model 3+ make its way west?

Unlike LFP batteries, which have faced tariff barriers and production constraints in the United States, NMC packs are already integrated into Tesla’s U.S. supply chain. This means the main obstacle to a North American release may be the motor, which, as of now, is built in China. Should Tesla choose to manufacture or source this lower-power motor outside China, a U.S. launch would likely face fewer regulatory or logistical hurdles.

But would it make sense? Possibly. According to Car News China, the reduced output motor consumes less energy, meaning the Model 3+ could surpass the range of the current U.S. RWD model, which is rated at 584 kilometers (363 miles). Should the new version exceed the 644-kilometer (400-mile) threshold, it would not only grab headlines—it would likely dominate its segment.

Tesla’s Model 3+ seems poised to push the boundaries of what a long-range EV can offer, especially in the compact sedan category. While official confirmation and full specs are still pending, the leaked documents paint a picture of a car engineered for maximum range with minimal compromise. If Tesla chooses to bring the Model 3+ to global markets, it could shake up the EV landscape—again.

Source: Car News China

News

Musk’s tunneling firm will build a tunnel network in Dubai

Several years ago, Elon Musk presented the idea of creating tunnels across the US, which would be a revolution for public transportation. The first Loop was built under Las Vegas, and now he has floated the idea of ​​building a tunnel in Dubai.

Dubai is home to the world’s tallest building (Burj Khalifa) and other construction projects, and is one of the richest countries that can realize huge infrastructure projects. One of them is certainly the Loop system that will be developed in cooperation with the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), which will mark the first expansion of the Boring Company outside the United States.

The plan is for the first Loop to be 17 kilometers long and have 11 stations, with a capacity of more than 20,000 passengers per hour. According to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Loop will eventually expand to the entire Emirate of Dubai, and when fully completed, the system will enable the transport of more than 100,000 passengers per hour.

There are still many unknowns about this project, and what we do know for now is that, like in Las Vegas, the Loop will use only electric vehicles. Although the Boring Company did not specify which models are involved, many believe that they will be the new Tesla Model 3, Model Y and Cybertruck. Some believe that the recently introduced Robovan could also be used. The vehicles will reach speeds of up to 160 km/h, and whether they will use a fully autonomous driving system or will rely on human operators like in Las Vegas is currently unknown.

Source: Reuters

News

Xiaomi SU7 overtook Tesla Model 3 in sales in China

Since it appeared on the market in early 2024, no one could have predicted that Xiaomi’s first car would experience such success. In just eight months since its debut, Xiaomi has shipped more than 130,000 SU7s, and in December it managed to outsell the Tesla Model 3.

Xiaomi currently offers several versions of this model, and all of them achieve outstanding sales results. That’s big for a company whose primary market is China, home of the biggest EV manufacturers. So, why are buyers more likely to opt for the SU7 than the Tesla Model 3?

The biggest difference between these two models is the price. With a starting price of 26,710 euros for the Standard version, the SU7 beats Tesla’s Model 3 by almost 10 percent, as it costs at least 29,000 euros. Also, Tesla recently increased the prices of all versions of the Model 3 in China, and with the growing competition from domestic manufacturers, this represents a rather big challenge for Tesla’s dominance in the Chinese market.

Chinese manufacturers think differently. They listen more to the needs of local buyers , offering more attractive cars at competitive prices and putting a lot of pressure on international brands. This will become even more evident when the Xiaomi YU7 hits the market, which will happen in the summer of this year.

Source: Reuters