- Tesla has filed for a single-motor Model 3+ in China, which could offer a range exceeding the 753 km of the Model 3 all-wheel drive long-range version.
- The combination of its single motor and LG Energy Solution ternary batteries will enable it to achieve a longer range.
Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has filed for a new Model 3 sedan variant in China, which could become the company's longest-range model.
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) today released a new regulatory catalog for public comment, with the Model 3+ included.
The public can submit feedback from July 17 to 23. Inclusion in the filing is the final major regulatory step required for a vehicle to be permitted for sale in China.
The new Model 3+ has only one page in the catalog, with the product model number TSL7000BEVBR1. It is a single-motor model with a peak motor power of 225 kW, which is higher than the 194 kW of the current single-motor variant.
It uses ternary lithium-ion batteries from South Korea's LG Energy Solution.
The Model 3 currently offers three variants in China: the entry-level rear-wheel-drive version, the long-range all-wheel-drive version, and the all-wheel-drive performance version, with starting prices of RMB 235,500 ($32,800), RMB 285,500, and RMB 339,500, respectively.
The rear-wheel drive version is equipped with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from CATL, while the other two variants use ternary batteries from LG Energy Solution, according to previous filing information.
The CLTC ranges for these three variants are 634 km, 753 km, and 623 km, respectively. The Model 3 with a 753 km range is currently Tesla's longest-range model.
The Model 3+'s combination of single motor and LG Energy Solution ternary batteries apparently means it will have the longest range among all variants of the sedan, potentially reaching 800 kilometers or more, as single-motor models are typically more energy-efficient, and ternary batteries have higher energy density than LFP batteries.
The new variant's dimensions are 4,720 mm in length, 1,848 mm in width, and 1,442 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,875 mm, the same as other Model 3 variants.
Its curb weight is 1,760 kilograms, the same as the base Model 3, with a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour.
In June, the Model 3's retail sales in China totaled 16,636 units, a year-on-year decrease of 8.35 percent, marking the second consecutive month of year-on-year decline, despite a 20.39 percent increase compared to May, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.
From January to June, the Model 3's retail sales in China came in at 91,919 units, a year-on-year increase of 30.38 percent.
