Model 3 retail sales in China were 2,079 units in September, contributing 4.78 percent to Tesla's sales in the country, a new low since October 2021, likely due in part to potential customers waiting for the new Model 3.
(Image credit: Tesla)
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has begun deliveries of the revamped version of the Model 3, or Model 3 Highland, in China, after officially starting sales of the model a week ago.
The US electric vehicle (EV) maker announced the development on Weibo today, without revealing any more information about the deliveries.
Tesla unveiled the new Model 3 on September 1 and began pre-sales of the sedan in China, where it officially went on sale on October 19.
Tesla offers two versions of the sedan -- a rear-wheel-drive version and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive version -- with starting prices of RMB 259,900 ($35,540) and RMB 295,900, respectively.
The previous versions of the Tesla Model 3 available in China were the entry version with rear-wheel drive and the performance version with dual-motor all-wheel drive, with starting prices of RMB 231,900 and RMB 331,900, respectively.
The new Model 3 has a sporty look, boasts a longer range of up to 713 kilometers, and gets an upgraded suspension system.
The two versions of the new sedan have battery pack capacities of 60 kWh and 78.4 kWh, and pack weights of 480 kg and 455 kg, respectively, according to a document released by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology earlier this month.
Customers currently ordering either version of the new Model 3 are expected to get deliveries in 6-9 weeks, information on Tesla's Chinese website shows.
Tesla has a factory in Shanghai that currently has an annual capacity of more than 950,000 vehicles, its largest in the world, according to its third-quarter financial report released earlier this month.
Giga Shanghai began operations at the end of 2019 and started deliveries of the locally produced Model 3 in January 2020 and the locally produced Model Y in January 2021.
Tesla also launched the new Model Y, which has minor feature updates, in China on October 1 and announced on October 15 that deliveries of the model had begun.
The Model Y is currently offered in three versions in China, with starting prices of RMB 263,900, RMB 299,900, and RMB 349,900.
Tesla sold 74,073 China-made vehicles in September, including 30,566 exported and 43,507 delivered in China, data released earlier this month by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed.
Model Y retail sales in China in September were 41,428 units, contributing 95.22 percent of Tesla's September retail sales in China.
Model 3 retail sales in China were 2,079 units in September, contributing 4.78 percent of Tesla's sales in China, a new low since October 2021, likely due in part to potential customers waiting for the new Model 3.
($1 = RMB 7.3179)
China NEV market share in Sept: BYD 34.5%, Tesla 5.8%, Nio 2.1%
