The Tesla Model 3 Thread

Tesla's "Highland" Model 3 pre-production starts in Fremont

In the heart of Tesla's manufacturing hub, the Fremont Gigafactory, whispers of the much-anticipated "Highland" Model 3 pre-production have turned into reality. Pictures circulating online showcase an assembly line of facelifted Model 3s, hinting at a revamped driving experience for American enthusiasts.

While the original Model 3 held its own, the latest iteration promises an elevated journey, boasting a quieter interior and a more comfortable ride. The rest of the world has already experienced the facelifted charm, leaving US patrons eagerly awaiting their turn.

Recent Reddit posts have brought the production buzz to the forefront, with snapshots of the refreshed Model 3s basking in the Californian sun. Some skeptics speculate these might be imports from China, given the Chinese lettering on a few, but the truth seems more intricate than meets the eye.

Intriguingly, a blue Model 3 adorned with Chinese logos also sported a VIN starting with 5YJ, a telltale sign of Fremont origins. Unlike its Shanghai counterparts, the American-made Model 3s carry this unique identifier, emphasizing the domestic origin.



 
Facelifted Tesla Model 3 arrives in North America

The refreshed Model 3, codenamed "Highland," finally makes its way to North America, bringing an array of updates and improvements. Two months after its debut in China and one after shipments began in Europe the updated version is finally available in North America.

The American customers can now place orders for the revamped Model 3, with deliveries anticipated to kick off this month. Just like its European counterpart, the Model 3 in the United States is available in two powertrain options, keeping things simple for prospective buyers.

 
Here are the top 10 best selling EVs in the US in 2023

The top selling EV in the US in 2023 was the Tesla Model Y, with 394,497 units sold. It was followed by the Model 3 with 220,910 units sold, and the Chevrolet Bolt EV/EUV with 62,045, though keep in mind these are two different models counted together.

Next up is the Ford Mustang Mach-E (40,771 sold), then the Volkswagen ID.4 (37,789 units), followed by the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (33,918 units), Rivian R1S (24,783 units), Ford F-150 Lightning (24,165 units), the Tesla Model X (23,015 units), with the BMW i4 rounding up the top ten with 22,583 sold.

While Tesla is obviously dominating overall, the Model S is conspicuously missing from the top 10 - apparently no one wants one anymore? Even so, 55% of EVs purchased by Americans in 2023 were made by Tesla. That puts it in a comfortable lead, but here's the context - back in Q1 2022, which is not that long ago, it held over 70% market share. So it's clearly shrinking, and will probably keep shrinking as more and more EVs are launched by more and more brands.


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Upgraded Tesla Model 3 mere days away from UK deliveries

Facelifted Tesla Model 3 now so close we can almost smell the cow-free leather

Tesla’s confirmed 27 January is the date customers will start receiving their new Model 3s in the UK. Buyers with pre-orders will no doubt be wide-eyed with excitement given rumours of the refresh first emerged two Christmases ago.

Never mind. The point is, it’s here. And better than ever, apparently. We’ve detailed before how it's got a sharper exterior, a quieter cabin, better quality finishes and more range.

Speaking of range, Tesla has confirmed that there’ll be no change to the WLTP figures (up to 390 miles for the Long Range) here, with its European cars unaffected by the EPA adjustments and lawsuit shenanigans going on over the pond. Still, one to keep an eye on perhaps...

Meanwhile, we already knew the Model 3 would be a few grand cheaper, with prices starting below £40k. For the Long Range version, you’re looking at £50,000.

 
Here’s why Tesla cars are not coming to South Africa

South Africans who have been wanting to buy a Tesla will have to put their aspirations on hold for a long time to come with news that the electric car brand is still not on the cards for our market.

There was a glimmer of hope back in 2016 when the Tesla Model 3 was revealed and reservations were opened for Mzansi.

However that quietly disappeared and in 2019 the South African born Tesla founder Elon Musk told an X user (formerly Twitter) that even though he’d love to bring the brand to SA, high import duties were making this unfeasible.

Although South Africa is in the process of releasing its White Paper on electric vehicles, that status quo remains and the South African born squillionare and tech mogul is currently sticking to his guns on the brand’s local introduction, or lack thereof.

This week he was asked a similar question on X, to which he responded:

This of course doesn’t completely rule out the brand’s possible introduction once a more favourable tax structure for electric vehicles (EVs) is implemented. But that’s going to take a while.

The lack of policy direction for EVs has been a major area of concern for car companies in South Africa, particularly given that Europe and the UK - which account for half of the country’s vehicle exports - plan to ban the sale of new internal combustion (ICE) vehicles from 2023.


 
New Tesla Model 3 scores surprising result in real-life range test

The new, refreshed Tesla Model 3, codenamed Highland, is now starting to be delivered to customers in North America. And, luckily for us, one of those customers decided to put it through a range test, driving it from full to empty at or around 113 km/h.

You can watch the full video below to find out how the new Model 3 fared (the range test starts at 7:34), but spoiler alert: it did very well. For this particular model, the EPA-estimated range is 549 km. In the real-life test, at 113 km/h, with outside temperatures hovering from 13°C to 16°C, the new Model 3 did 526 km to 0% battery left.


 
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