Tesla Model 3
Tesla Gigafactory 3 starts coming to life as construction begins in China [Updated]
It’s been barely a week since Tesla CEO Elon Musk attended Gigafactory 3’s groundbreaking ceremony, but the location for the upcoming battery and electric car factory is now ablaze with life. As could be seen in footage taken on Thursday local Shanghai time, work on Gigafactory 3 is already going full throttle, as evidenced by the sheer number of heavy equipment operating on the site.
The recent footage of the upcoming facility was shared with Teslarati by Tesla owner-enthusiast Vincent Yu, who is currently visiting Shanghai. Taken using a drone, the short footage shows heavy machinery busily working on a section of Tesla’s 864,885-square meter plot of land in Shanghai’s Lingang Industrial Zone. Vincent also shared some images taken around the land on Twitter, showing trucks seemingly moving dirt from the site.
(Pictures) Tesla Shanghai Lingang Gigafactory 3- Jan 17th 2019 $TSLA #Tesla #China #TeslaChina #GF3 pic.twitter.com/Yp7mhfLGLM
— vincent (@vincent13031925) January 17, 2019
The recently shared footage from Gigafactory 3 is but a few seconds long, but it does prove one notable point — once the groundbreaking ceremony for the site was done, the construction of the facility would likely proceed at an extremely rapid pace. China’s construction workforce, after all, is known for its fast, almost surgically-precise buildouts. Just last year, for example, Elon Musk lauded the country’s workforce on Twitter, sharing a report about Chinese workers building a railway station in just nine hours. In his post, Musk noted that “China’s progress in advanced infrastructure is more than 100 times faster than the US.”
In a country such as China, though, these rapid buildouts are usually accomplished with support from the government. Fortunately for Tesla, this appears to be the case, as evidenced by the state’s warm reception to Elon Musk during his visits to the country, as well as the help the electric car maker has received in securing partial funding for Gigafactory 3 (to name a few).
Tesla, for one, was allowed to become the sole owner of Gigafactory 3 — something that was not granted to other automakers operating in the country. Reports have also emerged pointing to local banks competing to grant Tesla low-interest loans to fund part of Gigafactory 3’s construction. The government’s favor was evident when Tesla placed its bid on the 864,885-square meter plot of land in Shanghai’s Lingang Industrial Zone as well, as the company was able to secure the land without any rival bidders. Lastly, China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd, the company building the facility, is a subsidiary of China Construction, which is owned by the government.
This favor on Tesla was no more evident during Elon Musk’s recent visit to the country, though. After the groundbreaking ceremony for Gigafactory 3, Musk met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing, who is widely considered as the country’s #2 after President Xi Jinping. During their talk, which was held at the Tower of Violet Light in Beijing — a place reserved for distinguished guests — Li openly listened to Musk’s ideas for Gigafactory 3, even the more ambitious ones such as making a facility that behaves similar to a “living being.” Li even lightly suggested that China can just issue Musk a “Chinese Green Card,” so that he can pursue his ideas in the country.
The timeframe for the construction of Gigafactory 3 is ambitious. Tesla aims to complete the initial construction of the facility by summer’s end. The company also intends to start the production of affordable Model 3 variants in the battery and electric car factory by the end of the year. Now that work has commenced on the factory’s site, though, Tesla’s aggressive timetable just became more feasible.
Watch the most recent footage of Gigafactory 3 in the video below.
Update: Vincent has provided a more extensive video from his recent drone flyover of Gigafactory 3.
The Tesla Model 3’s cheapest trim level just got a major accolade, as Edmunds just revealed the Rear-Wheel-Drive trim of the all-electric sedan is the most efficient EV that is currently in production.
The 2026 Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel-Drive not only beat its EPA-estimated range by 30 miles, but it also bested its efficiency mark by 13.2 percent. The Model 3 tested by Edmunds traveled 393 miles, beating its EPA rating by 8.3 percent, while it returned 21.7 kWh per 100 miles, or 4.61 mi/kWh.
Beating those two metrics is especially pertinent when it comes to EV ownership and driving down the cost of ownership from ICE counterparts across the board. The real money savings come from driving down the cost of driving per mile, especially when it comes to high-mileage driving.
Edmunds stated in its report and review that the process it uses to test EV efficiency is aimed at giving “the most accurate representation of a car’s real-world range.” The assessment uses a strict route that features 60 percent city and 40 percent highway driving, and an average speed of 40 MPH across the trip.
It also drives each car within 5 MPH of all posted speed limits, and the climate control is set on Auto at 72 degrees to ensure even testing. In other words, Edmunds does not use methods to maximize efficiency, and instead tries to make it reasonable to achieve the same ratings yourself.
In comparison to other EVs, it beat the 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA 350, which went 385 miles, as well as the 2026 Audi A6 Sportback E-tron Prestige AWD, which traveled 392 miles. Only the Mercedes-Benz CLA 250+ traveled farther, making it an impressive 434 miles on a charge.
However, the Tesla Model 3 RWD’s efficiency is “unmatched” because of its incredibly low energy usage per mile.
🚨 Tesla Model 3 RWD:
-At $36,990, it is $9,000 cheaper than the average transaction price for a new car ($46,023 via KBB)
-Was 13.2% more efficient than its EPA estimate
-Traveled 393 miles on a charge despite its 363-mile EPA range https://t.co/Grov2hXqpa pic.twitter.com/Zl8rnZZLIB
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 8, 2026
The Model 3 Rear-Wheel-Drive might be the best bang-for-your-buck EV if you’re looking to buy new and want access to features like Full Self-Driving, while also being aware of efficiency. This trim of the Model 3 is also priced over $9,000 cheaper than what Kelley Blue Book says the average transactional price for a new car was in May 2026, which sits at $46,023.
If you’re looking for something with more speed, an All-Wheel-Drive drivetrain, or more premium features, the Premium trims of the Model 3 currently come with one year of Free Supercharging.
Tesla is offering a tasty Supercharging incentive on certain Model 3 trims, but the company has officially put a concrete end date on it, so those interested should act fast.
Tesla is offering Free Supercharging for One Year on the Model 3 Premium and Performance trims, the top two offerings of the all-electric sedan. There are three trims of the Model 3 that will have the Free Supercharging offer attached:
- Premium Rear-Wheel-Drive – $42,490
- Premium All-Wheel-Drive – $47,490
- Performance – $54,990
Tesla has now announced that this offer will expire on June 15, giving potential buyers about ten days to take advantage of the incentive.
This could be an additional incentive for car buyers to transition to electric vehicles. Many states are showing gas prices well over $4 per gallon, with the national average currently sitting at $4.22, according to AAA.
A free year of Supercharging miles would allow people to charge and travel for free, other than routine maintenance, which is already incredibly cheap compared to a gas car.
🚨 Tesla is now showing that it’s Free Supercharging offer for Model 3 Premium and Performance trims ends June 15 pic.twitter.com/VCLeddNSj8
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 5, 2026
At Tesla Superchargers, peak rates, meaning prices between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., average between $0.45 and $0.60. One year of driving at an average of 12,000 miles would cost between $1,000 and $1,500 at $0.50 per kWh. It’s a pretty good deal.
Supercharging prices have also increased recently:
Many of the Superchargers in my area just had their peak rates increased from $0.44 per kWh to $0.49, $0.52, and $0.54 per kWh
If you’re looking to save on your commute/travel for the next year, this Model 3 Free Supercharging incentive might not be a bad idea https://t.co/YDwwl4xxHk pic.twitter.com/DleURW7eqa
— TESLARATI (@Teslarati) June 5, 2026
Tesla has used Free Supercharging to move units in the past, and it’s a great strategy for those who plan to use the car for longer commutes, cross-country drives, or do not have reliable access to home charging.
It should be noted that Tesla recommends that Supercharging be used at a minimum to preserve the life of the battery, as fast-charging is more stressful on the cells.
However, some people might not have an option, so the Free Supercharging incentive could truly be a great reason for many people to charge their cars.
The Supercharging incentive is short-term, and it is pretty rare that Tesla utilizes it, so once this offer is gone, we probably will not see it on the Model 3 for some time.
Lifestyle
Tesla saves its passengers again – This time after a 300-foot cliff fall in Malibu
A Tesla Model 3 fell 300 feet off a Malibu cliff and both passengers survived.
A Tesla Model 3 plunged roughly 300 feet off a cliff on Mulholland Highway in Malibu on Friday morning, May 29, 2026, and both occupants survived. The crash was reported at approximately 7:30 a.m. near the 2500 block of Mulholland Highway, triggering a multi-agency rescue operation involving Malibu Search and Rescue, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the California Highway Patrol, and McCormick Ambulance.
When first responders arrived, the male driver was outside the vehicle shouting for help while the female passenger remained pinned inside the Tesla. Rescue crews rappelled down the cliffside on ropes to reach the wreckage. A flight medic was lowered by helicopter to begin treating both victims, and the driver was hoisted up to the roadway before crews used the Jaws of Life to free the trapped passenger. Both were airlifted to a local trauma center with moderate injuries despite a remarkable result for a fall that steep.
The outcome is not surprising, considering Model 3 earned an overall 5-star rating from NHTSA in every category and sub-category, and recorded the lowest probability of injury of any car ever evaluated by the U.S. New Car Assessment Program. The absence of a traditional engine in the front of the vehicle creates a longer crumple zone that absorbs impact energy before it reaches occupants, and the battery pack running along the floor gives the car an unusually low center of gravity that reinforces structural rigidity.
This is not the first time a Tesla has kept passengers alive after going off a cliff. A Tesla Model Y carrying a family of four survived a plunge off a cliff at Devil’s Slide near San Francisco in January 2023, with two adults and two children walking away from a 250-foot fall. That incident drew widespread attention to how the structural integrity of Tesla’s electric platform performs in extreme crash scenarios that most vehicles would not survive.
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