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Tesla China gets golden opportunity to break new ground with Model 3 Long Range

The Made-in-China Model 3. (Credit: Tesla China)

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6 years ago

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Just recently, Tesla updated its Model 3 configurator in China to include the locally-produced Long Range RWD and Dual Motor Performance. With this, Tesla has begun an initiative to transition its entire Model 3 sales in China to vehicles that are produced locally. Such a strategy could pay off in spades for the electric car maker, especially considering an ongoing push from the Chinese government to boost the country’s automotive market. 

China’s auto market has taken a beating this year, and the lockdowns due to the coronavirus outbreak did not help one bit. As noted by CNN Business in a recent report, China would have sold over 6 million cars by now on an average year, but so far, the country has only sold 3.7 million this 2020. This drop was highlighted by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), which stated that Q1 auto sales have declined 42% year-over-year. 

A huge culprit for this, of course, is the coronavirus outbreak. The country saw a massive 79% drop in February, primarily because of multiple cities going on mandatory lockdowns due to the pandemic. The decline in the local automotive sector was felt by China as a whole, as the industry plays a crucial role in the country’s economy. Over 40 million people rely on the car market for jobs, and the automotive segment generates about 10% of China’s manufacturing output. 

Amidst these challenges, the CAAM emphasized in a statement on Friday that while automakers restart production, the industry’s “primary issue” and “urgent need” is to boost raw vehicle sales. The country aims to accomplish this in several ways. Beijing, for example, announced last month that it would extend subsidies and tax breaks for new energy vehicles. At least a dozen provinces have also ramped up their cash subsidies for auto purchases, with some offering as much as $1,400 per car. 

If Tesla can take advantage of this momentum, the electric car maker’s China division would have the potential to significantly soften the blow that the company will be experiencing this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tesla’s American plants like the Fremont factory and Gigafactory New York have been temporarily shut down, after all, but Gigafactory Shanghai, which produces the Made-in-China Model 3, is already back to full operations. Even more impressive is the fact that Giga Shanghai is actually hitting new milestones, with the facility recently reaching a production rate of 3,000 vehicles per week. 

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China’s auto market is a highly competitive arena, and only carmakers that are aggressive enough thrive. Fortunately, Tesla China seems to be up to the task, pricing the new Model 3 Long Range RWD variant at about $48,000. The Model 3 Standard Range Plus has also made quite an impact since starting consumer deliveries earlier this year. Tesla China’s sales rose to 10,160 cars in March thanks to the locally-made Model 3 SR Plus, up from the 3,900 units that were sold in February. 

While the year will be challenging for China’s auto market, it may be far too early to discount the country’s chances this year just yet. As noted by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), the need to drive children to and from school is a significant motivator for consumers to purchase cars. Fortunately, schools are expected to reopen in the country this spring and summer. Apart from this, CPCA Secretary General Cui Dongshu also mentioned that the country’s Labor Day holiday in May will last longer than it has been in over a decade. This presents an opportunity for more car sales, as potential buyers may have a desire to travel over the upcoming long holiday. Both of these opportunities are ripe for the picking for Tesla, provided that the electric car maker is up for the challenge. 

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Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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GM CEO Mary Barra says she told Biden to give Tesla and Musk EV credit

“He was crediting me, and I said, ‘Actually, I think a lot of that credit goes to Elon and Tesla…You know me, Andrew. I don’t want to take credit for things.”

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4 hours ago

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December 3, 2025

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General Motors CEO Mary Barra said in a new interview on Wednesday that she told President Joe Biden to credit Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for the widespread electric vehicle transition.

She said she told Biden this after the former President credited her and GM for leading EV efforts in the United States.

During an interview at the New York Times Dealbook Summit with Andrew Ross Sorkin, Barra said she told Biden that crediting her was essentially a mistake, and that Musk and Tesla should have been explicitly mentioned (via Business Insider):

“He was crediting me, and I said, ‘Actually, I think a lot of that credit goes to Elon and Tesla…You know me, Andrew. I don’t want to take credit for things.”

Back in 2021, President Biden visited GM’s “Factory Zero” plant in Detroit, which was the centerpiece of the company’s massive transition to EVs. The former President went on to discuss the EV industry, and claimed that GM and Barra were the true leaders who caused the change:

“In the auto industry, Detroit is leading the world in electric vehicles. You know how critical it is? Mary, I remember talking to you way back in January about the need for America to lead in electric vehicles. I can remember your dramatic announcement that by 2035, GM would be 100% electric. You changed the whole story, Mary. You did, Mary. You electrified the entire automotive industry. I’m serious. You led, and it matters.”

People were baffled by the President’s decision to highlight GM and Barra, and not Tesla and Musk, who truly started the transition to EVs. GM, Ford, and many other companies only followed in the footsteps of Tesla after it started to take market share from them.

Elon Musk and Tesla try to save legacy automakers from Déjà vu

Musk would eventually go on to talk about Biden’s words later on:

“They have so much power over the White House that they can exclude Tesla from an EV Summit. And, in case the first thing, in case that wasn’t enough, then you have President Biden with Mary Barra at a subsequent event, congratulating Mary for having led the EV revolution.”

In Q4 2021, which was shortly after Biden’s comments, Tesla delivered 300,000 EVs. GM delivered just 26.

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Tesla Full Self-Driving shows confident navigation in heavy snow

So far, from what we’ve seen, snow has not been a huge issue for the most recent Full Self-Driving release. It seems to be acting confidently and handling even snow-covered roads with relative ease.

Published

7 hours ago

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December 3, 2025

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Credit: Grok

Tesla Full Self-Driving is getting its first taste of Winter weather for late 2025, as snow is starting to fall all across the United States.

The suite has been vastly improved after Tesla released v14 to many owners with capable hardware, and driving performance, along with overall behavior, has really been something to admire. This is by far the best version of FSD Tesla has ever released, and although there are a handful of regressions with each subsequent release, they are usually cleared up within a week or two.

Tesla is releasing a modified version of FSD v14 for Hardware 3 owners: here’s when

However, adverse weather conditions are something that Tesla will have to confront, as heavy rain, snow, and other interesting situations are bound to occur. In order for the vehicles to be fully autonomous, they will have to go through these scenarios safely and accurately.

One big issue I’ve had, especially in heavy rain, is that the camera vision might be obstructed, which will display messages that certain features’ performance might be degraded.

So far, from what we’ve seen, snow has not been a huge issue for the most recent Full Self-Driving release. It seems to be acting confidently and handling even snow-covered roads with relative ease:

Moving into the winter months, it will be very interesting to see how FSD handles even more concerning conditions, especially with black ice, freezing rain and snow mix, and other things that happen during colder conditions.

We are excited to test it ourselves, but I am waiting for heavy snowfall to make it to Pennsylvania so I can truly push it to the limit.

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Tesla hosts Rome Mayor for first Italian FSD Supervised road demo

The event marked the first time an Italian mayor tested the advanced driver-assistance system in person in Rome’s urban streets.

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11 hours ago

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December 3, 2025

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Credit: @andst7/X

Tesla definitely seems to be actively engaging European officials on FSD’s capabilities, with the company hosting Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Mobility Assessor Eugenio Patanè for a hands-on road demonstration. 

The event marked the first time an Italian mayor tested the advanced driver-assistance system in person in Rome’s urban streets. This comes amid Tesla’s push for FSD’s EU regulatory approvals in the coming year.

Rome officials experience FSD Supervised

Tesla conducted the demo using a Model 3 equipped with Full Self-Driving (Supervised), tackling typical Roman traffic including complex intersections, roundabouts, pedestrian crossings and mixed users like cars, bikes and scooters.

The system showcased AI-based assisted driving, prioritizing safety while maintaining flow. FSD also handled overtakes and lane decisions, though with constant driver supervision.

Investor Andrea Stroppa detailed the event on X, noting the system’s potential to reduce severe collision risks by up to seven times compared to traditional driving, based on Tesla’s data from billions of global fleet miles. The session highlighted FSD’s role as an assistance tool in its Supervised form, not a replacement, with the driver fully responsible at all times.

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Path to European rollout

Tesla has logged over 1 million kilometers of testing across 17 European countries, including Italy, to refine FSD for local conditions. The fact that Rome officials personally tested FSD Supervised bodes well for the program’s approval, as it suggests that key individuals are closely watching Tesla’s efforts and innovations.

Assessor Patanè also highlighted the administration’s interest in technologies that boost road safety and urban travel quality, viewing them as aids for both private and public transport while respecting rules.

Replies on X urged involving Italy’s Transport Ministry to speed approvals, with one user noting, “Great idea to involve the mayor! It would be necessary to involve components of the Ministry of Transport and the government as soon as possible: it’s they who can accelerate the approval of FSD in Italy.”

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