The “Chinese” Tesla Model 3 Performance differs more than one might think

China can now order the Tesla Model 3 Performance, which offers the opportunity to play the game of spotting the differences.

A little satisfaction: Europe was the first territory to market the new Tesla Model 3 Performance several weeks ago. At a time when Europeans are being invited to go to the polls to express their desires (some anachronistic minds are waving the grand global decline of the Old Continent…), it can be seen as a positive sign. Europe continues to set the tone when it comes to performance and elitism.

More prosaically, one could also be convinced that Tesla wanted to anticipate the long weeks of maritime freight to transport hundreds of Model 3 Performance units to Europe from China…

More than 100 km of additional range?

A quick glance at the technical specifications reveals nothing unusual. Indeed, the Chinese range in the mixed CLTC cycle is advertised at 623 kilometers on a full charge, compared to 528 km in Europe. This variation is not at all due to a battery with different chemistry but rather to the method of calculating range. In Europe, the standard route best matches daily usage, with a mix of medium-speed roads and city driving. In the United States, the ranges are even lower because highway driving predominates in the equation. And in China, it’s the opposite: urban areas are heavily congested, and the regeneration during braking and low peak speeds inflate the range to levels unseen in Europe.

One last explanation that nobody saw coming: the wheel diameter is 19 inches in China versus 20 inches in Europe. And that changes a lot!

13,390 euros cheaper?

Another striking aspect: the selling price. In China, the Tesla Model 3 Performance is listed at 335,900 Yuan, approximately 42,600 euros. In France, the same car is priced at 55,990 euros, which is a difference of 13,390 euros.

There are reasons for this. The first lies in the transportation costs from China. In a previous article, Mobiwisy estimated them at about 4,285 euros. The second reason stems from the difference in VAT between China and France. There, the rate is 13%, while it’s 20% here.

If we blindly applied a 13% rate instead of 20%, the price in France would drop to 52,640 euros. Subtracting the transportation costs, we would arrive at around 48,300 euros. The 6,000 euro difference would then come from transportation and other personnel compensations, which are significantly higher in France than in China.

Not the same paint?

In China, the standard color is the very successful Stealth Gray, which is strangely charged as an option for 2,000 euros in France. Go figure. Conversely, the Pearl White “offered” in France is sold for 8,000 Yuan (1,015 euros) in China. Once again, largely a reason for lower VAT…

Conclusion

In the end, it is difficult to oppose the two versions of the Tesla Model 3 Performance between China and Europe directly. The mere variation in wheel diameter – and probably their footprint – is enough to skew the range values.

ALL THE NEWS FROM TESLA