Deliveries of the updated Model 3 Performance, the sedan's most powerful variant, in China will begin in the third quarter, Tesla's China website shows.

Tesla's Shanghai factory began operations at the end of 2019 and starts deliveries of the locally produced Model 3 in January 2020 and the locally produced Model Y in January 2021.

Tesla was offering the Model 3 in 2020 in three variants -- an entry-level version with single-motor rear-wheel drive, a long-range version with single-motor rear-wheel drive, and a performance version with dual-motor all-wheel drive.

Starting in January 2021, the single-motor rear-wheel-drive long range version was canceled in China, leaving the Model 3 with only the single-motor rear-wheel-drive entry version and the more powerful Model 3 Performance.

On September 1, 2023, Tesla begins pre-sales of the refreshed Model 3, or Model 3 Highland, in China, offering an entry-level rear-wheel drive version, and a long-range all-wheel drive version.

Both variants of the new Model 3 officially began sales in China on October 19, 2023, with deliveries beginning in late October.

The updated Model 3 Performance is capable of sprinting from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of 261 kilometers per hour. The model has a CLTC range of 623 kilometers.

For comparison, the entry-level Model 3 can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, has a top speed of 200 km/h and a CLTC range of 606 km.

The Model 3 Long Range has a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.4 seconds, a top speed of 200 km/h and a CLTC range of 713 km.

Tesla cuts prices across its entire lineup in China

($1 = RMB 7.2453)