Tesla China is upgrading every Model 3 it sells with a larger 16-inch touchscreen and a new light gray interior option, while enabling AC power output of up to 2.2 kW across the entire Model 3 and Model Y lineup in the country.
See also: Tesla launches six-seat Model YL in the US – $61,990
The US Model 3 is not getting these upgrades. Tesla's US Model 3 still has a 15.4-inch screen and lacks the vehicle-to-load feature that Tesla launched in the US in August. Tesla announced the changes on October 1 with a series of promotional posters on its official Chinese channels.
The main hardware change is the center display. Every current version of the Model 3 in China now has a 16-inch touchscreen, up from 15.4 inches. Tesla claims it has a higher resolution and refresh rate, but it didn't provide specific numbers.
The second change is aesthetic. Chinese buyers can now choose a “premium interior” in light gray, which Tesla pairs with a black cloth headliner. This mirrors a change Tesla made to the U.S. Model Y Premium in January, when it added a black headliner and the 16-inch display to the 2026 Model Y.
Additionally, every Model 3 and Model Y currently sold in China can now export up to 2,200W of AC power. Tesla provides an example of a campsite running a 600W rice cooker, a 1kW pot, and a 600W electric kettle simultaneously. Owners must purchase Tesla’s AC Power Export Adapter to use this feature, except for the three-row Model YL, which does not require the adapter.
See also: Tesla Model Y: The most popular vehicle in Europe for 2023
The upgrades come with a new round of incentives. Model 3 orders placed by October 31st will receive a 5,000 yuan (~$740) discount on the final payment.
Tesla also offers 0% financing for 5 years (79,900 yuan down payment, about 2,377 yuan per month), an 8,000 yuan insurance subsidy on RWD, Long Range RWD and Long Range AWD models, an 8,000 yuan paint credit and a choice of three charging privileges.
Following these incentives, Tesla is advertising the Model 3 starting at 222,500 yuan (~$33,000). However, the list price remains unchanged, with the base RWD still costing 235,500 yuan, meaning the advertised price is only valid when the final payment discount and insurance subsidy are taken into account. Even with discounts, the price is significantly higher than BYD’s new Formula S, which starts at 189,900 yuan for the RWD sedan.
Competition in China is fierce, pushing Tesla to launch new features and incentives there first. In the U.S., the Model 3 starts at $36,990, and Tesla's specs page still lists a 15.4-inch center console display.
See also: NHTSA dismisses investigation into Tesla Model 3 doors
Vehicle-to-charge is a major difference. When Tesla introduced vehicle-to-charge in the US in August, it was limited to the Model Y Premium, Model Y Performance and Cybertruck, providing 2.4kW via an $80 adapter for the Gen 3 Mobile Connector. The entire Model 3 lineup in the US was excluded, while every Model 3 in China includes the feature.
