A truckload of Performance Model 3s with Chinese badging have been spotted leaving Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, sparking questions about their existence.
Tesla began making its “mass-market” Model 3 in late 2019 but to date has only listed the base Standard Range Plus variant on its official website.
The EV maker also now has approval to begin making the Long Range Model 3 in China, with an official listing for the model recently added to a Chinese government website – but not for the Performance variant.
As a result, the truckload of mystery Performance models have grabbed people’s attention.
Photos of five blue Model 3s were shared to Tesla China follower Jay in Shanghai on Twitter in Friday evening (Australian time), and they indisputably appear to be Performance versions.
BREAKING: MIC Tesla Model 3 Performance spotted on a vehicle transporter straight from Giga Shanghai. That’s right PERFORMANCE this is an unannounced model in China ???????? Thank you to one of my followers sharing this with us.#Tesla #TeslaChina #MIC #Model3P #特斯拉 #中国 $TSLA pic.twitter.com/DFrWghZ8Jo
— Jay in Shanghai ???????? (@JayinShanghai) March 6, 2020
“Spoiler, Power Sport Performance Wheels, Red Underline (right hand Model 3 Badge) and Red Brake Calipers can be seen,” Jay pointed out on Twitter to a questioning fellow Tweep.
Also visible is the Chinese version of the Tesla badge on left instead of the word Tesla in English characters, apparent on closer inspection.
Is it possible that the models are en route to get approval for production at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory 3 also?
It does seem a little odd, seeing as the Long Range RWD version added to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recommended models listing in February has not even been added to the official Tesla China website for ordering yet.
Of course, it is entirely possible that the Performance models spotted are in fact imported Model 3s with the English word logo replaced by the Chinese badge.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.