Image: Tesla China
Tesla China is updating every Model 3 it sells with a larger 16-inch touchscreen and a new light gray interior option, and is enabling up to 2.2 kW of AC power export across its Model 3 and Model Y lineup in the country.
The American Model 3 gets none of that. Tesla’s American Model 3 still has a 15.4-inch screen and is excluded from the vehicle-charging feature that Tesla launched in the United States in August.
What changed in China?
Tesla announced the changes on October 1 with a series of four marketing posters on its official Chinese channels.
The main hardware change is the central screen. All current Model 3 models in China now have a 16-inch touchscreen, up from 15.4 inches. Tesla says it has a higher resolution and a higher refresh rate, but didn’t provide actual numbers for either.
The second change is cosmetic. Chinese buyers can now opt for a light gray “premium interior,” which Tesla pairs with a black fabric headliner. That’s the same move Tesla made on the US Model Y Premium in January, when it added a black headliner and a 16-inch display to the 2026 Model Y.
Then there is the export of energy. Each Model 3 and Model Y currently on sale in China can now generate up to 2,200W of AC power. Tesla’s example is a camping setup that uses a 600W rice cooker, a 1kW hot pot, and a 600W electric kettle at the same time.
Owners must purchase the Tesla AC Power Export Adapter to use it. The only exception is the three-row YL model, which does not need the adapter.
More discounts above
The updates were accompanied by a new round of incentives. Model 3 orders placed before October 31 get 5,000 yuan (~$740) off final payment.
Tesla is stacking that with 5-year 0% financing (79,900 yuan less, from about 2,377 yuan per month), an 8,000 yuan insurance subsidy for RWD, Long Range RWD, and Long Range AWD, an 8,000 yuan paint credit, and a choice of three charging benefits.
After all that, Tesla advertises the Model 3 starting at 222,500 yuan (~$33,000). But the list price didn’t budge. The base RWD is still 235,500 yuan, so the headline price only works once both the final payment discount and insurance subsidy are counted.
Even after discounts, it’s well above BYD’s new Formula S, which starts at 189,900 yuan for the RWD sedan.
Competition is fierce in China and Tesla is launching new features and incentives there first.
The American Model 3 is left behind
In the United States, the Model 3 starts at $36,990, and Tesla’s own specs page still lists a 15.4-inch center touchscreen.
V2L is the biggest gap. When Tesla brought the vehicle for charging to the US in August, it limited it to the Model Y Premium, Model Y Performance, and Cybertruck, to 2.4 kW via an $80 adapter for the Gen 3 Mobile Connector. The entire American Model 3 range was left out. In China, all Model 3s have it.
Charge your electric vehicle at home using rooftop solar panels. Find a reliable, competitively priced solar installer near you at EnergySage, for free. They have pre-vetted installers competing for your business, ensuring high-quality solutions and 20-30% savings. It’s free, with no sales calls until you choose an installer. Start here.
FTC: We use automatic affiliate links that generate income. Further.
