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Tesla’s original Model 3 Long Range RWD version gets offered in China
Official Tesla Model 3 deliveries in China are yet to begin, but the electric car maker is already going full throttle preparing the market for the arrival of its latest electric sedan. Amidst the start of test drives and sightings of Model 3 Performance equipped with the company’s unique Power Sports aero wheels, Tesla has also added a new version of the vehicle on its Chinese configurator — the Model 3 Long Range RWD.
The addition of the Long Range RWD variant to China’s Model 3 configurator is a rather interesting move by the electric car maker, considering that this particular version was retired in the United States in favor of the lower-priced Mid Range Model 3 RWD. As could be seen from screenshots provided by Tesla owner-enthusiast @ShanghaiJayin, the Long Range Model 3 RWD is offered at 433,000 yuan (around $64,000) before options. That makes it a notable bargain compared to the Long Range AWD Model 3, which starts at 499,00 yuan (around $74,000) in China.
Breaking news today from Tesla China, New Model 3 option in China. Long Range Battery – Rear Wheel Drive. 600KM+ (New photos) #Tesla #TeslaChina #Model3 #China @ElectrekCo @Teslarati @Tesla pic.twitter.com/I6ZGgfrW5H
— Jay in Shanghai 电动 Jay 🇨🇳 (@JayinShanghai) February 1, 2019
The Long Range RWD version of the electric sedan started the entire Model 3 disruption. Being the only configuration available for the vehicle when it started production, the vehicle carried Model 3 sales for several quarters. Despite lacking the dual motors of the Model 3 Performance, the Long Range RWD boasted some impressive specs, from its 310-mile range, its 0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds, and its top speed of 140 mph. In the initial months following the start of its production, the Long Range Model 3 was sighted competing in drag races, and just like its larger siblings — the Model S and Model X — the electric sedan proved to be quick on its feet.
It should also be noted that the Long Range Model 3 RWD is the configuration that won over longtime gearhead and veteran auto journalist Henry Payne, who noted that he purchased the electric sedan simply because there is no other vehicle like it on the road. So impressed was Payne with his Long Range Model 3 that he eventually dubbed the vehicle as the 2018 Car of the Year in The Detroit News.
Auto teardown expert Sandy Munro, who ultimately became impressed with Tesla’s tech, also analyzed the vehicle. Munro’s change of heart with the Model 3 is well documented, as he initially disliked the vehicle due to the quality issues with its build, but he eventually admitted that he had to “eat a lot of crow” by the end of his analysis, since it turned out that the electric sedan’s batteries, motors, suspension, and electronics, were completely top-notch.
Tesla’s addition of the Long Range RWD Model 3 for the Chinese market could prove to be a strategic move for the electric car maker, as the vehicle’s relatively low price compared to the Long Range AWD and Performance variants could entice the country’s more budget-conscious car buyers. With a price of around $64,000, the Long Range Model 3 RWD offers China-based customers a chance to purchase a Tesla at a price far below the brand’s usual costs (the Model S 100D, for example, is listed around 849,600 yuan or $126,000 in China). Ultimately, the vehicle would likely be able to play the part of the Model 3’s low-cost variant in China, at least until Tesla is able to start manufacturing more affordable versions of the sedan in Gigafactory 3.
News
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y earn Euro NCAP Best in Class safety awards
“The company’s best-selling Model Y proved the gold standard for small SUVs,” Euro NCAP noted.
Tesla won dual categories in the Euro NCAP Best in Class awards, with the Model 3 being named the safest Large Family Car and the Model Y being recognized as the safest Small SUV.
The feat was highlighted by Tesla Europe & Middle East in a post on its official account on social media platform X.
Model 3 and Model Y lead their respective segments
As per a press release from the Euro NCAP, the organization’s Best in Class designation is based on a weighted assessment of four key areas: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Vulnerable Road User, and Safety Assist. Only vehicles that achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating and were evaluated with standard safety equipment are eligible for the award.
Euro NCAP noted that the updated Tesla Model 3 performed particularly well in Child Occupant protection, while its Safety Assist score reflected Tesla’s ongoing improvements to driver-assistance systems. The Model Y similarly stood out in Child Occupant protection and Safety Assist, reinforcing Tesla’s dual-category win.
“The company’s best-selling Model Y proved the gold standard for small SUVs,” Euro NCAP noted.
Euro NCAP leadership shares insights
Euro NCAP Secretary General Dr. Michiel van Ratingen said the organization’s Best in Class awards are designed to help consumers identify the safest vehicles over the past year.
Van Ratingen noted that 2025 was Euro NCAP’s busiest year to date, with more vehicles tested than ever before, amid a growing variety of electric cars and increasingly sophisticated safety systems. While the Mercedes-Benz CLA ultimately earned the title of Best Performer of 2025, he emphasized that Tesla finished only fractionally behind in the overall rankings.
“It was a close-run competition,” van Ratingen said. “Tesla was only fractionally behind, and new entrants like firefly and Leapmotor show how global competition continues to grow, which can only be a good thing for consumers who value safety as much as style, practicality, driving performance, and running costs from their next car.”
News
Tesla is shifting FSD to a subscription-only model, confirms Elon Musk
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the upcoming update in a post on social media platform X.
Tesla will be ending one-time purchases of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system after Valentine’s Day, transitioning the feature to a monthly subscription-only model.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed the upcoming update in a post on social media platform X.
No more FSD one-time purchases
As per Elon Musk in his post on X, “Tesla will stop selling FSD after Feb 14. FSD will only be available as a monthly subscription thereafter.” This marks a shift in how Tesla monetizes its FSD system, which can now be purchased for a one-time fee or accessed through a monthly subscription.
FSD’s subscription model has been $99 per month in the United States, while its one-time purchase option is currently priced at $8,000. FSD’s one-time purchase price has swung wildly in recent years, reaching $15,000 in September 2022. At the time, FSD was proficient, but its performance was not on par with v14. This made its $15,000 upfront price a hard sell for consumers.
Tesla’s move to a subscription-only model could then streamline how the company sells FSD. It also lowers the entry price for the system, as even price-conscious drivers would likely be able to justify FSD’s $99 monthly subscription cost during periods when long-distance travel is prevalent, like the holidays.
Musk’s compensation plan and FSD subscription targets
Tesla’s shift to a subscription-only FSD model comes amidst Musk’s 2025 CEO Performance Award, which was approved by Tesla shareholders at the 2025 Annual Shareholders Meeting with roughly 75% support. Under the long-term compensation plan, Musk must achieve a series of ambitious operational milestones, including 10 million active FSD subscriptions, over the next decade for his stock awards to vest.
The 2025 CEO Performance Award’s structure ties Musk’s potential compensation to Tesla’s aggressive targets that span market capitalization, vehicle deliveries, robotics, and software adoption. Apart from his 10-million active FSD subscription target, Musk’s compensation is also tied to Tesla producing 20 million vehicles cumulatively, delivering 1 million Tesla bots, and having 1 million Robotaxis in operation. He must also lead Tesla to a market cap of $8.5 trillion.
If successful, Elon Musk’s 2025 CEO Performance Award could make him the world’s first trillionaire. It could also help Tesla become the world’s most valuable company by market cap by a notable margin.
Tesla is planning for a new 300+ stall Supercharger station that will be an expansion of an existing facility, and the company is planning to add a surprise for the Semi.
The Firebaugh, California Supercharger is currently 72 Superchargers, but Tesla filed for an expansion that will add 232 additional plugs for passenger vehicles, and it also plans to add 16 Semichargers.
This will be the biggest Supercharger station Tesla will have to date, just months after it finished the Supercharger Oasis in Lost Hills, California, which has 168 stalls. This will have 304 total Supercharger stalls, and then the additional 16 Megachargers.
🚨 This Supercharger station will have 304 total stalls and 16 Semichargers following this expansion
Absolutely INSANE size 🔥
This is located on I-5, so many semis will be traveling along this route https://t.co/hM9hdLcWwg
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) January 13, 2026
The Firebaugh Supercharger is located on I-5, which is a major reason for why Tesla has chosen the location for additional Megacharger plug-ins, as Tesla Semi Program Manager Dan Priestley said on X earlier today.
Lots of trucks to electrify on I-5
— Dan Priestley (@danWpriestley) January 13, 2026
The project was revealed by MarcoRP, a Supercharger tracker.
The expansion is a massive signal for charging demand, especially as Tesla’s Superchargers are opened to numerous automakers and are no longer exclusive to the company’s EVs. Additionally, the installation of Megachargers is a good sign to come for the Tesla Semi program, which aims to truly ramp up this year.
Tesla plans to launch production of the Semi later this year.
It could also mean Tesla is going to expand its footprint of large-scale Supercharger projects in the coming years, which would be a big boost as EV adoption continues to soar in the United States.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y earn Euro NCAP Best in Class safety awards
Tesla is shifting FSD to a subscription-only model, confirms Elon Musk
