Tesla is about to launch a more advanced version of its most affordable electric vehicle (EV) – Model 3 – in China. The American EV giant has applied for a new sales license with China’s Ministry of Information Technology (MIIT) for a new variant of Model 3 which will offer a longer range as compared to the current model.
To be called Model 3 Plus, the Ministry of Information Technology recently released a new regulatory catalog for public comment. The public can submit their feedback between July 17 and 23. Inclusion in the filing marks the final key regulatory step for a vehicle to be approved for sale in China.
The new Model 3 Plus has only one page in the catalog, with the product model number TSL7000BEVBR1. A local media outlet, named Cailian News, has claimed that Tesla is planning to launch this new variant of Model 3 in September. It is expected to become Tesla’s longest-range model. The report further claims that it is expected to be priced at 270,000 yuan (approx Rs 32.32 lakh).Â
In August 2019, Tesla discontinued the long-range rear-wheel-drive version of the Model 3 in China. The company did not provide an official reason for its removal. Notably, this variant had previously offered a maximum comprehensive driving range of over 600 km.
Tesla Model 3 Plus: Expected specs
A separate report from Car News China reveals that the Model 3 Plus will be driven by a single motor mounted on the rear axle. It will, however, feature a more expensive ternary NMC battery sourced from LG Energy Solutions, which at present is only available in all-wheel drive (AWD) Long-range or Performance variants. Tesla currently offers three versions of the Model 3 sedan in China: RWD, Long Range AWD, and Performance AWD.
Although Tesla is yet to confirm the exact specifications of this new battery, the report says that this upcoming Model 3 variant is expected to use the same 78.4 kWh battery offered in the AWD variants. This might give way to a Long-range RWD Model 3 variant in China.Â
Since the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) single-motor variant consumes less energy than the all-wheel-drive (AWD) dual-motor version (11.2 kWh vs 12.1 kWh per 100 km), equipping it with an NMC battery from LG could potentially deliver the highest range ever for a Model 3, expected to be around 800 km on a full charge. The Model 3 Plus is expected to weigh 1,760 kilograms with a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour.
