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Tesla Model 3 Power Sports wheel with aero cover makes grand debut in China as test drives begin

Model 3 Performance Power Sports Wheels on display in China. | Credit: Twitter/@ShanghaiJayin

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Test drives of the Tesla Performance Model 3 opened yesterday in Shanghai and, as to be expected, pictures of the Chinese variation of the electric car have surfaced online. In photos shared by Twitter user JayinShangahai, in-person glimpses have been captured of the vehicle, including the new 19-inch “Power Sports” wheels, both with and without their aero covers. The Model 3 wheel variation was first spotted in Tesla’s online vehicle configurator for the Chinese market but isn’t yet available in the US.

The Power Sports wheels are said to increase range efficiency and, when used with their aerodynamic hubcaps, “better adapt to different road conditions”, per their description on Tesla’s Chinese Model 3 Design Studio. A similar performance wheel variation is offered in the US market, however the size and appearance are slightly different. The Aero Wheels offered for the North American Model 3 are 18″ as opposed to the 19″ size of the Power Sports version, and the overall design has been reworked from a 5-hole, black/grey style to a 7-hole, silver/grey style. It should also be noted that the Power Sports wheel is only offered on the Model 3 Performance – the Long Range AWD variation will come with either the Aero Wheels or Sports Wheels styles found in North American versions.

The first batch of Tesla’s Performance Model 3 China edition vehicles arrived about a week ago in Hong Kong. Per the online configurator, delivery of the Dual Motor Model 3 variation is supposed to begin sometime in March, and an additional Standard Range version is slated for mid-2019, completing the full Tesla lineup available to the company’s Chinese customers. The still-unreleased Model Y crossover SUV was originally thought to be part of the all-electric car maker’s coming production plans in China, but in yesterday’s 2018 Full Year Report, Tesla indicated that Gigafactory 1 in Sparks, Nevada would likely be the initial manufacturing site.

Tesla is likely planning on deliveries into China being short-lived in favor of in-country production at its recently ground broken Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai, primarily as a matter of financial sense. An extra 25% import tariff is placed on cars originating in the US, significantly increasing the price of any American vehicles brought into the country. China recently agreed to suspend the extra tariff; however, the suspension is scheduled to end on April 1, 2019. Tesla adjusted their vehicle pricing accordingly with the hope of using the lower tariff advantage to ramp up sales, a plan which was successful. Even still, though, general import taxes remain in force, meaning the electric vehicle manufacturer would need to further reduce tax barriers to truly expand and compete throughout China. Manufacturing Tesla’s cars in Shanghai would accomplish this.

The Tesla Model 3 Performance is expected to become a strong contender in China’s high-performance sedan market. With a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 3.5 seconds offered at a rival-undercutting price of 560,000 RMB (around $81,000), the value of the vehicle overall speaks for itself. Once Gigafactory 3 is up and running – initial construction is expected to be completed this summer – it is anticipated to reach high volume production shortly thereafter and enter the Chinese market as a true local competitor for other manufacturers doing business in the country.

Accidental computer geek, fascinated by most history and the multiplanetary future on its way. Quite keen on the democratization of space. | It's pronounced day-sha, but I answer to almost any variation thereof.

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Tesla cleared in Canada EV rebate investigation

Tesla has been cleared in an investigation into the company’s staggering number of EV rebate claims in Canada in January.

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Credit: Tesla

Canadian officials have cleared Tesla following an investigation into a large number of claims submitted to the country’s electric vehicle (EV) rebates earlier this year.

Transport Canada has ruled that there was no evidence of fraud after Tesla submitted 8,653 EV rebate claims for the country’s Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) program, as detailed in a report on Friday from The Globe and Mail. Despite the huge number of claims, Canadian authorities have found that the figure represented vehicles that had been delivered prior to the submission deadline for the program.

According to Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, the claims “were determined to legitimately represent cars sold before January 12,” which was the final day for OEMs to submit these claims before the government suspended the program.

Upon initial reporting of the Tesla claims submitted in January, it was estimated that they were valued at around $43 million. In March, Freeland and Transport Canada opened the investigation into Tesla, noting that they would be freezing the rebate payments until the claims were found to be valid.

READ MORE ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES: EVs getting cleaner more quickly than expected in Europe: study

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Huw Williams, Canadian Automobile Dealers Association Public Affairs Director, accepted the results of the investigation, while also questioning how Tesla knew to submit the claims that weekend, just before the program ran out.

“I think there’s a larger question as to how Tesla knew to run those through on that weekend,” Williams said. “It doesn’t appear to me that we have an investigation into any communication between Transport Canada and Tesla, between officials who may have shared information inappropriately.”

Tesla sales have been down in Canada for the first half of this year, amidst turmoil between the country and the Trump administration’s tariffs. Although Elon Musk has since stepped back from his role with the administration, a number of companies and officials in Canada were calling for a boycott of Tesla’s vehicles earlier this year, due in part to his association with Trump.

Tesla excluded from incentives in Canada over Trump tariffs

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Tesla Semis to get 18 new Megachargers at this PepsiCo plant

PepsiCo is set to add more Tesla Semi Megachargers, this time at a facility in North Carolina.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla partner PepsiCo is set to build new Semi charging stations at one of its manufacturing sites, as revealed in new permitting plans shared this week.

On Friday, Tesla charging station scout MarcoRP shared plans on X for 18 Semi Megacharging stalls at PepsiCo’s facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, coming as the latest update plans for the company’s increasingly electrified fleet. The stalls are set to be built side by side, along with three Tesla Megapack grid-scale battery systems.

The plans also note the faster charging speeds for the chargers, which can charge the Class 8 Semi at speeds of up to 1MW. Tesla says that the speed can charge the Semi back to roughly 70 percent in around 30 minutes.

You can see the site plans for the PepsiCo North Carolina Megacharger below.

Credit: PepsiCo (via MarcoRPi1 on X)

Credit: PepsiCo (via MarcoRPi1 on X)

READ MORE ON THE TESLA SEMI: Tesla to build Semi Megacharger station in Southern California

PepsiCo’s Tesla Semi fleet, other Megachargers, and initial tests and deliveries

PepsiCo was the first external customer to take delivery of Tesla’s Semis back in 2023, starting with just an initial order of 15. Since then, the company has continued to expand the fleet, recently taking delivery of an additional 50 units in California. The PepsiCo fleet was up to around 86 units as of last year, according to statements from Semi Senior Manager Dan Priestley.

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Additionally, the company has similar Megachargers at its facilities in Modesto, Sacramento, and Fresno, California, and Tesla also submitted plans for approval to build 12 new Megacharging stalls in Los Angeles County.

Over the past couple of years, Tesla has also been delivering the electric Class 8 units to a number of other companies for pilot programs, and Priestley shared some results from PepsiCo’s initial Semi tests last year. Notably, the executive spoke with a handful of PepsiCo workers who said they really liked the Semi and wouldn’t plan on going back to diesel trucks.

The company is also nearing completion of a higher-volume Semi plant at its Gigafactory in Nevada, which is expected to eventually have an annual production capacity of 50,000 Semi units.

Tesla executive teases plan to further electrify supply chain

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Tesla sales soar in Norway with new Model Y leading the charge

Tesla recorded a 54% year-over-year jump in new vehicle registrations in June.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla is seeing strong momentum in Norway, with sales of the new Model Y helping the company maintain dominance in one of the world’s most electric vehicle-friendly markets.

Model Y upgrades and consumer preferences

According to the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV), Tesla recorded a 54% year-over-year jump in new vehicle registrations in June. The Model Y led the charge, posting a 115% increase compared to the same period last year. Tesla Norway’s growth was even more notable in May, with sales surging a whopping 213%, as noted in a CNBC report.

Christina Bu, secretary general of the Norwegian EV Association (NEVA), stated that Tesla’s strong market performance was partly due to the updated Model Y, which is really just a good car, period.

“I think it just has to do with the fact that they deliver a car which has quite a lot of value for money and is what Norwegians need. What Norwegians need, a large luggage space, all wheel drive, and a tow hitch, high ground clearance as well. In addition, quite good digital solutions which people have gotten used to, and also a charging network,” she said.

Tesla in Europe

Tesla’s success in Norway is supported by long-standing government incentives for EV adoption, including exemptions from VAT, road toll discounts, and access to bus lanes. Public and home charging infrastructure is also widely available, making the EV ownership experience in the country very convenient.

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Tesla’s performance in Europe is still a mixed bag, with markets like Germany and France still seeing declines in recent months. In areas such as Norway, Spain, and Portugal, however, Tesla’s new car registrations are rising. Spain’s sales rose 61% and Portugal’s sales rose 7% last month. This suggests that regional demand may be stabilizing or rebounding in pockets of Europe.

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