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Tesla boosts Model 3 to whopping 353-mile EPA range for less than $47,000
Tesla left a ton of surprises for interested buyers after the company updated its design studio and unleashed its Model 3 refresh. Tesla gave all Model 3 variants a range boost. The Long Range and Performance variants received a little extra love with improvements in 0-60 mph performance as well.
The Model 3 Standard Range Plus now has a range of 263 miles. Before the refresh, the Model 3 SR+’s EPA estimated range was 250 miles. Now the Long Range Model 3 has an EPA range of 353 miles. Prior to Tesla’s design studio update, the Model 3 LR’s range was 322 miles, which was already far above its competitors in the electric car market.
The Performance variant’s new EPA range is 315 miles, passing the 300- mile mark it shyly missed before the Model 3 refresh. This is incredibly impressive, especially for a car that is optimized for maximum performance.
The Long Range and Performance variant received a little extra TLC. Tesla also improved the performance of both top-tier Model 3 variants. The Performance can now do 0-60mph in 3.1 seconds, only .1 second faster than the previous version. While the Long Range is now capable of doing 0-60mph in 4.2 seconds, a significant leap from the 4.4 seconds in the older Model 3 LR.
The best tidbit about Tesla’s upgraded Model 3 might be the fact that the company did not change the price of the cars. The SR+ is still $37,990 and $28,690 after potential savings. The Model 3 LR’s purchase price is still below $50,000 at $46,990 or $37,690 after potential savings. And the Performance is still $54,990 or $45,690 after potential savings.
Offering a 353-mile Model 3 at less than $47,000 is a bold move for Tesla, especially considering the state of the all-electric sedan’s competition. For context, the Polestar 2, arguably one of the Model 3’s more legitimate competitors, starts at $61,200 before incentives, and only has an EPA-estimated range of 233 miles per charge.
Tesla’s refreshed Model 3 variants might make the vehicle even more enticing. Details about the Model 3 refresh have been coming out of the woodwork for the past couple of weeks. Images of the Model 3 refresh revealed that Tesla opted to change the EV sedan’s interior. The pictures showed a new center console with a more traditional design that featured a matte finish, silver accents, and faux leather stitching.
Other images revealed that the Model 3 refresh would include chrome delete wheels, too. There was some speculation that Tesla would upgrade the Model 3’s range and performance as well. The latest design studio update confirms that the images were indeed Tesla’s redesigned Model 3.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk and xAI donate generators to TN amid historic power outages
The donation comes as thousands of households have gone days without electricity amid freezing temperatures.
Elon Musk has donated hundreds of generators to Tennessee residents still without power following a historic winter storm, as per an update from Governor Bill Lee.
The donation comes as thousands of households have gone days without electricity amid freezing temperatures.
Musk donates generators
As noted in a report from WSMV4, the historic storm that hit Tennessee resulted in hundreds of thousands of residents experiencing a power outage at the end of January. Thousands are still living without power or heat in freezing temperatures for up to nine days.
As per TN Gov. Bill Lee in a post on X, Elon Musk and xAI have donated hundreds of generators to assist residents in affected areas. “Tennesseans without power need immediate help. I’m deeply grateful to @elonmusk & @xAI for going above & beyond to support Tennesseans by donating hundreds of generators to fill the gap, & I value their continued partnership to solve problems & support communities across our state,” he wrote in his post.
Tennessee officials have stated that recovery efforts remain ongoing as crews work to restore power and address damage caused by the winter storm. The generators are expected to provide temporary relief for residents facing power outages during freezing conditions.
Tesla Powerwalls may follow
Musk publicly responded to the governor’s post while hinting that additional help may be on the way. This time, the additional support would be coming from Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla.
“You’re most welcome. We’re working on providing Tesla Powerwalls too,” Musk wrote in his response to the official.
Even before Elon Musk’s comment, Tesla had already extended help to affected customers in Mississippi and Tennessee. In a post on X, the official Tesla Charging account noted that all Superchargers in the two states are online, and free Supercharging has been enabled to help those in areas that are affected by persistent power outages.
These include Grenada, Tupelo, Corinth, Southhaven, and Horn Lake in Mississippi and several Supercharging sites in Memphis, Tennessee.
News
Tesla-inspired door handles prohibited under China’s new safety standard
The rule effectively ends a design trend pioneered by Tesla and widely adopted across China’s electric vehicle market.
China will ban hidden door handles on electric vehicles starting 2027 under a new national safety standard, forcing automakers to equip their cars with mechanical exterior and interior handles.
The rule effectively ends a design trend pioneered by Tesla and widely adopted across China’s electric vehicle market.
China bans hidden door handles
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) noted that the new mandatory national auto safety standard on EV door handles will take effect on January 1, 2027. For models that have already received approval and are scheduled for launch, automakers will be allowed to complete required design changes by January 2029.
Under the new rules, exterior door handles must remain operable even in scenarios involving irreversible restraint system failures or thermal runaway incidents in the battery pack. Doors must also be capable of opening even if the vehicle loses electrical power. Interior doors must include at least one independent mechanical release handle per door as well.
Safety concerns drive rollback
Hidden and electrically actuated door handles have become mainstream in recent years as EV makers pursued cleaner styling and improved aerodynamics. Tesla pioneered the hidden handle design, and it was adopted by most Chinese EV manufacturers in either fully hidden or semi-hidden forms, as noted in a CNEV Post report. Today, about 60% of top-selling EVs in China use the design.
Chinese regulators have stated that the designs pose safety risks, particularly in crashes or power failures where doors may not open from the inside or outside. Authorities cited multiple fatal incidents in which occupants or rescuers were unable to open vehicle doors after collisions.
One high-profile case occurred last October, when a Xiaomi SU7, a vehicle designed to be a competitor to the Tesla Model 3, caught fire following a crash in Chengdu in southwest China. The driver died after bystanders were unable to open the doors. The incident sparked intense scrutiny over the SU7’s Tesla-inspired door handles.
News
Tesla’s global fleet surpasses 9 million vehicles worldwide
The update was posted by Tesla China, which competes in the world’s most competitive electric vehicle market.
Tesla’s global fleet has now exceeded 9 million vehicles, a major milestone for the electric vehicle maker.
The update was posted by Tesla China, which competes in the world’s most competitive electric vehicle market.
Tesla’s global fleet crosses 9 million vehicles
The milestone was highlighted in a graphic shared by Tesla China, which thanked the over nine million Tesla owners worldwide for their support over the years. To celebrate the milestone, Tesla China announced several incentives for select owners, from Model Y L test drives to Tesla Bot Premium Gift Sets to Supercharging perks.
The milestone comes 16 years after the company started delivering its first vehicle, the original Tesla Roadster, as observed by members of the Tesla community. The first production Roadster was delivered to Elon Musk, who was serving as chairman at the time.
Reaching a global fleet of more than 9 million vehicles reflects the cumulative impact of Tesla’s growth over the past decade, particularly following the introduction of high-volume models such as the Model 3 and Model Y. The Model 3 and Model Y have allowed Tesla to transform from a niche automaker into one of the world’s largest producers of electric cars.
Strong China sales help drive fleet growth
Tesla’s expanding global footprint has been supported by solid performance in China, where the company posted a strong finish to 2025. In December, the Model Y ranked as the country’s top-selling new energy vehicle, as per sales data compiled by Chinese auto industry aggregator Yiche.
The Model Y led China’s NEV rankings with approximately 65,874 units sold during the month, outperforming a field dominated by domestic manufacturers such as BYD, SAIC-GM-Wuling, and Xiaomi. Tesla’s Model 3 also delivered an impressive result, ranking eighth overall with just under 28,000 units sold, ahead of numerous locally produced competitors despite its premium pricing.
Tesla China’s broader performance in December was equally notable. The company sold 97,171 vehicles wholesale during the month, based on data from the China Passenger Car Association. The result marked Tesla China’s second-highest monthly total on record, trailing only November 2022’s peak of 100,291 units.
Elon Musk and xAI donate generators to TN amid historic power outages
Tesla-inspired door handles prohibited under China’s new safety standard
