Model Y Performance returns to China
Tesla has once again added its most powerful variant to the updated Model Y lineup in China. The Model Y Performance is built at Gigafactory Shanghai and is available in the configurator from 369,000 yuan. That is roughly equivalent to €44,000, although exchange rates, taxes and regional pricing structures make a direct comparison with Europe of limited value.
For new orders in China, Tesla quotes an estimated delivery time of two to six weeks. The first production vehicles are reportedly already on their way to delivery centers and showrooms.
467 kW and a top speed of 250 km/h
The Performance model features a new 291 kW rear electric motor paired with a 176 kW front motor. Tesla puts the combined output at 467 kW. This allows the electric SUV to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 250 km/h.
| Specification | Model Y Performance China |
|---|---|
| Powertrain | Dual-motor all-wheel drive |
| Combined output | 467 kW |
| 0–100 km/h acceleration | 3.5 seconds |
| Top speed | 250 km/h |
| Range | 659 km under CLTC |
| Ground clearance | approximately 15.5 cm |
| Price in China | 369,000 yuan |
The stated range of 659 km is based on China’s CLTC test cycle. This typically produces more optimistic results than the WLTP cycle used in Europe. It is therefore not yet possible to derive a reliable real-world highway range for the DACH region—Germany, Austria and Switzerland—from this figure.
Adaptive suspension and larger brakes
Tesla does not limit the Performance package to increased motor output. It also includes adaptive suspension, more powerful brakes and sports seats with extendable thigh supports. Compared with regular Model Y versions, ground clearance decreases from approximately 16.8 to 15.5 cm, placing greater emphasis on a lower center of gravity and more dynamic suspension tuning.
The interior features a central 16-inch display. Customers can choose between a black interior and the lighter Zen Grey shade. Six exterior paint finishes are available, including Glacier Blue, which originates from the Shanghai plant and is offered in the Asia-Pacific region.
V2L makes the battery useful on the go
The Chinese Model Y Performance can also supply power to external devices. With a compatible Powershare adapter, it can power camping equipment, tools or smaller electrical appliances, for example. Battery in the car → power for mobile devices, without the need for a separate portable power station.
This vehicle-to-load function does not automatically mean that the car can power an entire home. The adapters, power outputs and approvals available in each region depend on the respective market. We have already examined the technical details in our article on the V2L adapter for the Tesla Model Y.
Shanghai completes the Model Y family
With the Performance model, the Chinese lineup is complete again following the major model update. Tesla initially removed the top version from its range and focused production on higher-volume rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants. Additional regional versions and the extended Model Y L with three rows of seats followed later.
Production in Shanghai could also affect other markets. The factory is a major export hub for Tesla, meaning that more Performance vehicles from China could once again be delivered to Australia and New Zealand in the future. However, this does not yet indicate any change to European supply routes, as vehicles for this market may continue to come from Grünheide, Tesla’s German factory near Berlin.
The new Model Y Performance combines true sports-car acceleration with the practicality of Tesla’s best-selling SUV.
For Tesla, the return of the Performance version is strategically important above all. In China, the company once again covers the full spectrum from the efficient base model to the range-topping 467 kW variant. The real-world difference in efficiency will be particularly interesting, as even the Model Y Standard impressed in efficiency testing with its strong range.
