According to reports from China, Tesla is set to release the new Tesla Model 3 Performance in the second quarter, which begins in two months. With the Chinese launch on the horizon, there's growing speculation that the Model 3 Performance could soon be headed to the U.S. and other markets.
The high-performance variant of the Model 3 is expected to carry a price tag of approximately 400,000 yuan, or around $55,730 USD. Reports from Dongchedi state that the vehicle will soon enter mass production at the Shanghai and Fremont factories.
Adding to the anticipation, the new seats have been spotted, and a mysterious covered Model 3 has been spotted undergoing tests in California. These sightings suggest that Tesla is preparing for a U.S. launch, fine-tuning the vehicle to meet the expectations of American drivers. However, the vehicle was a right-hand drive car, which suggested it was being set up for the UK.
Martin Viecha's Enthusiastic Endorsement
In a recent interaction on X, Tesla's Senior Director of Investor Relations, Martin Viecha, had a fanboy moment when he congratulated automotive enthusiast and television presenter James May. In his post, Viecha mentioned watching May's show throughout his childhood and expressed hope that May would enjoy the car, specifically recommending the Model 3 Performance upon its release. Would he really tease his hero if the car wasn’t close to production?
Congrats @MrJamesMay! Watched your show all my childhood. Hope you like the car. You should get the Performance one, once that comes out 🙂 https://t.co/H8tZKt4iHk
Tesla has yet to release full power specifications for the new Model 3 Performance, but expectations are high based on its predecessor. The previous model featured dual motors, a combined power output of 357 kilowatts, and a 659 N·m torque. It also achieved a rapid 0-60 mph acceleration in just 3.3 seconds and boasted a cruising range of about 420 miles. The latest model is expected to maintain or even surpass these performance metrics, possibly incorporating a three-motor power system for improved handling and range.
The Tesla Model 3 Performance would make a great addition to James May’s collection. Just when it will ship is still speculation. If the reports are true, then the new Performance Model 3 could be on roadways worldwide by summer.
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After a post on X, Tesla has confirmed that it recently exported its 1 millionth car from Giga Shanghai. That’s a massive number of vehicles from a factory that only opened in December 2019.
Since Q3 2021, Giga Shanghai has been responsible for producing over 50% of global EV production – with the single exception of Q2 2022 – where production fell to about 40% while the factory was retooling. That’s a jaw-dropping figure for a single factory.
1 Million Exports
Giga Shanghai produces Teslas for practically the entire world, including the European, Australian, Chinese, and other Southeast Asian markets. For now, it also produces cars for Canada; however, an upcoming tariff could change this.
Giga Shanghai also celebrated the shipping of 100,000 vehicles to Australia with the 1 million vehicles exported mark. While the majority of vehicles end up in Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia are still massive markets for Tesla.
Going forward, Giga Shanghai, with its continued expansions, will be at or above 1 million vehicles produced per year. A good chunk of these vehicles stay within China, while the rest are exported. Tesla sells on average 40 to 80,000 cars per month in China, depending on the season, with an average of 90,000 cars produced per month in 2024 so far.
Automated Production
This is all thanks to Giga Shanghai’s 95% automated production line. Giga Shanghai is likely one of the most automated and advanced factories in the world, a testament to Tesla’s manufacturing and engineering expertise. Giga Shanghai produces one vehicle every 40 seconds.
We’re looking forward to seeing how Tesla’s expansions and factory innovations continue in the coming months and years.
Giga Shanghai operates a 95% automated production line, enabling a cycle time of less than 40 seconds! From taking 2.5 years for the first million cars to be produced, the second million was done in just 12 months 🚘🪄 pic.twitter.com/IF1w27AFPr
Tesla’s last app update, version 4.37.1, introduces support for critical alerts on the iPhone. These alerts are designed for emergency situations and will override standard notification settings, including the mute switch, Focus modes, and Do Not Disturb. This ensures that owners are notified when immediate action is required, even if their phone is set to silent.
How to Enable Critical Alerts
Activate Dog Mode: Open the Tesla app and turn on Dog Mode.
Main App Screen: After activating Dog Mode, go back to the main section of the app.
Enable Critical Alerts: A new option called Critical Alerts will appear under Live Camera and the quick action icons (Tip: You can add up to 5 quick actions). It’ll state, “Grant permissions to receive critical notifications.” Tap it, and you’ll see a system dialog asking for permission to allow critical alerts for the Tesla app.
Confirm Permission: Choose to allow the Tesla app to send critical notifications, which will grant the app special privileges for sending urgent alerts.
This new feature is likely intended for situations where Dog Mode needs to be turned off unexpectedly. For example, if the vehicle’s battery drops below 20% or if the temperature inside the cabin rises or falls drastically outside of your set temperature, the Tesla app is expected to send a critical alert to the owner, ensuring they are informed right away.
What Are Critical Alerts?
Critical Alerts are a type of iOS notification available only to approved apps, which must meet specific criteria set by Apple. These alerts are designed to be used in emergencies and bypass all standard notification restrictions. This means that regardless of whether your phone is silenced or in Do Not Disturb mode, the alert will play a sound and appear prominently.
By adding support for Critical Alerts, Tesla is prioritizing the safety of pets who may be left inside the vehicle with the expectation that Dog Mode will keep conditions safe. This change makes the app more reliable for alerting owners when immediate attention is needed, ensuring they are always kept informed—even when their phone’s settings would typically prevent other notifications from coming through.
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