- tesla is reportedly working on a longer-range version of the model 3 that it will build in china.
- this new version could offer 30 to 40 more miles of driving range than the current long range model, which is rated at 322 miles by the u.s. epa.
- we don't know when or if this model will come to the u.s., as the current plan is to build it locally in china for the chinese market.
tesla is getting ready to release a longer-range version of the model 3 sedan in china, according to a report from bloomberg. it's said to offer around 404 miles of driving range based on china's rating system, which is considerably more than the current china-market model 3 long range that's rated at 367 miles by this same metric. this model will be built in china at tesla's factory in shanghai.
translating these range numbers to u.s.-specific epa ratings suggests that, if a similar model is ever sold on our shores, it could offer between 355 and 365 miles of range (the u.s.-spec model 3 long range is epa rated at 322 miles). tesla did recently release a long range plus version of the larger model s and model x, so it seems likely that the company would begin using this designation for the model 3 sometime soon.
of course, if tesla decides to produce a new version of the model 3 in the u.s., it will have to wait to begin building this model until its factory in fremont, california, resumes production. after a back and forth between tesla and local authorities, tesla finally complied with the state's stay-at-home order to prevent the spread of covid-19 and closed the plant on march 23.