Tesla has taken a key step toward launching a new version of its Model 3 sedan in China, submitting regulatory filings that suggest the upcoming model could become the longest of any Tesla vehicle sold in the country.
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Tuesday released a new vehicle catalog for public consultation, listing a Model 3 variant labeled “Model 3+” under the internal code TSL7000BEVBR1.
Although Tesla officially teased the new 6-seater Model Y on Chinese social media, the company did not comment or promote the new trim of the Model 3. The Model Y is coming “this Fall.”
The new sedan is a rear-wheel-drive version with a single electric motor rated at 225 kilowatts, an upgrade from the 194 kW motor used in Tesla’s existing RWD Model 3.
In August 2019, Tesla discontinued the long-range rear-wheel-drive Model 3 in China, offering no official reason for its withdrawal. The variant had an NEDC-rated range of more than 600 kilometers.
The car’s physical specifications remain unchanged from the rest of the Model 3 lineup: a 4,720 mm body length, 1,760 kg curb weight, and 200 km/h top speed.
Local media outlet CLS reported the Model 3+ may launch as early as September, with a price point near 270,000 yuan ($37,600).
Tesla discontinued a similar long-range rear-wheel-drive version in China back in 2019 without explanation.
Tesla currently offers three Model 3 variants in the market, ranging from the 235,500 yuan base model to the 339,500 yuan performance version.
The base trim uses CATL-supplied LFP batteries, while the higher-spec versions already rely on LG’s ternary chemistry.
The filing comes as Tesla looks to strengthen its competitive position in China’s increasingly crowded EV segment.
The Model 3 posted 16,636 retail sales in June, according to industry data — up 20% from May but down more than 8% from the prior year, marking the second straight month of annual decline.
Last week, Tesla sold 12,300 units in China, of which 9,410 were Model Ys.
Figures more than doubled from the previous week’s 5,000 units, when the Elon Musk-led company recorded its lowest figures in two months, reflecting the typical slowdown seen at the start of each quarter in the automotive industry.
