A batch of Tesla Model 3 Highlands spotted doing high-temperature testing in China

2 min to read
Aug 22, 2023 3:05 PM CEST

On August 22, a facelifted Tesla Model 3 in heavy camo was spotted in Xinjiang during road and high-temperature tests. According to the report from 36kr, trial production already started in Giga Shanghai, and deliveries will begin by the end of September.

The spy shots were posted by a Chinese blogger 不看车. According to the report, the facelifted Model 3 production cost was significantly reduced, and the EV is expected to start at 200,000 yuan (27,400 USD). The current version of Model 3 starts at 231,000 yuan (31,800 USD) in China.

Despite the car’s heavy camo, we can’t see much, but there is still something – the driver’s hand on the steering wheel on the second car – wheel, not yoke. Also, we can see lights that remind us of the Model S.

Updated Model 3 Highland with visible steering wheel.

In the first half of September, the production capacity in Shanghai Giga will reach about 1,200 units. As previously reported, the new Model 3 will have no radars and feature HW 3.5, not HW 4.

On August 14, Tesla dropped the price of the Model Y SUV by 14,000 yuan (1,900 USD) and offered a time-limited subsidy for car insurance for Model 3 up to 8000 yuan (100 USD). Last week, Tesla continued the trend and cut Model S and X prices by 6% in China.

Editor’s comment

We still need to wait for the official price announcement, but we assume it will be very ambitious, considering the bloodbath in China’s crowded mid-size EV sedan market. It seems that Tesla chose the radical price reduction as a priority for the Highland Model 3 and subordinated everything to it – no parking radars, only a minor facelift, and using older HW3.5. There will be more compromises, for sure.

If I had to guess, the Tesla folks in Shanghai were tasked with making the Model 3 a 200k yuan EV, whatever it takes. We will keep an eye on it.

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