Tesla Model 3 2026 News

If there is one word to describe the Australian car industry in 2026, it’s diversity.

Tesla has been rolling its new, budget-oriented Standard line-up into different markets and the next is firming as China.As reported by Car News China, an image of the Model Y Standard appeared on the Tesla China website on its home charging webpage last week but quickly disappeared again.According to the publication, Weibo user Anting Dafan, who reportedly contacted Tesla said it is gearing up to launch not only the Model Y Standard but also the Model 3 Standard in China. The latter will reportedly launch first.Tesla initially launched the Model 3 and Model Y Standard in the US, but it’s now being offered in a number of European countries with German production.Given Chinese production of the Standard models is reported to commence soon, this means it could be closer to an Australian launch.Virtually every Tesla currently sold in Australia, excluding the German-made Model Y Performance, is made in China.If the Chinese-made Model 3 and Model Y Standard do come to Australia they will likely reduce the asking price for both models by a considerable amount.Car News China reports the Model 3 and Model Y Standard will be priced around 200,000 yuan (~A$42,800). In China the current Model 3 RWD costs 235,500 yuan (~A$50,400) and the Model Y RWD costs 263,500 yuan (~A$56,400) in China, representing potential price cuts of 35,500 yuan (~A$7600) and 63,500 yuan (~A$13,600), respectively.If similar pricing differences carry over to the Australian-specification Model 3 and Model Y Standard, this could see pricing start from around $47,000 and $45,000, respectively. It’s unlikely the Model Y Standard will be more affordable than the Model 3 Standard though.Details of the Chinese-made Model 3 and Model Y Standard are yet to be confirmed.In other markets both the Model 3 and Model Y Standard are slower to 100km/h, likely meaning they come with a less powerful rear-mounted electric motor.The Model 3 Standard can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.2 seconds (1.0 seconds slower than the Premium RWD) and the Model Y Standard can do the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.2 seconds (1.6 seconds slower than the Premium RWD).It also appears both have a smaller battery pack than the rest of the line-up. Tesla doesn’t disclose exact battery capacities, though the Model 3 and Model Y Standard can travel up to 534km, according to WLTP testing.There are different 18-inch wheel designs and fewer exterior paint colour selections. The Model Y Standard also ditches the front and rear LED light bars, adaptive high-beam functionality and panoramic glass sunroof, however the Model 3 Standard retains the latter two features.Inside, both models receive fabric and synthetic leather combination upholstery. There’s no interior ambient lighting, the steering column is manually adjusted and the second-row touchscreen is deleted.Additionally, there’s a less-sophisticated sound system with fewer speakers, no ventilated front seats, no heated outboard rear seats and manually adjusted second-row air vents.The Model Y Standard in particular has an open centre console unlike the Model Ys which have storage cubbies with retractable lids.Under the skin both the Model 3 and Model Y Standard have passive shock absorbers unlike the other non-Performance trims which have frequency dependent suspension.All the safety hardware tech for both models is carried over, including the eight exterior cameras which allow for Full Self-Driving (FSD) as an optional extra.The potential introduction of the Model 3 and Model Y Standard in Australia could help spur sales. In 2025 Tesla sold a total of 28,856 new vehicles, which is down 24.8 per cent year-on-year.The Model Y is still the best-selling electric vehicle (EV) in Australia and saw 4.6 per cent year-on-year sales growth, sales of the Model 3 were down over 60 per cent year-on-year.

Tesla has finally extended its warranty period in Australia.

Tesla's Model 3 is getting smashed in the sales charts - what could the brand do to reverse its fortunes?

What could be the most affordable Teslas yet have gone global - but when will they land in Oz?

Tesla might finally be conceding defeat.

They were once the staple in almost every Australian driveway, but the sedan is looking increasingly in danger of disappearing altogether.Sales of family-sized sedans are down more than 60 per cent in 2025, with even the biggest names in the market including the Toyota Camry and Tesla Model 3 enduring a major sales slide.The decline of the Camry, which is down 46.4 per cent in the first nine months of 2025 is particularly telling. Once a staple not only of the sedan market, but one of the most popular cars in the country, the Camry is now struggling to find new buyers. Once popular family cars including the Holden Commodore, Ford Falcon and Mondeo, Mazda6, Volkswagen Passat, Kia Optima and more have all disappeared over the past decade and more and more buyers shift to utes and SUVs.A decade ago some local car executives openly questioned how large the SUV market could grow, doubting that the sedan could be overtaken, such as the dominance of the bodystyle at the time.That has clearly changed.Some industry insiders viewed electric cars as a potential saviour of the sedan, as the lower body allowed for better aerodynamics and less weight, and therefore greater efficiency and longer driving range off the batteries. The Model 3 and BYD Seal have performed strongly previously, but sales of both have taken a turn for the worse in 2025.This year Tesla reported sales of the Model 3 were down more than 65 per cent in the first seven months of the year, while the Seal has seen its sales halved. While this is happening, sales of SUVs and utes continue to stay strong, making it clear to car companies where they should be focusing their attention and future models. While there are some brands still committed to the sedan for now, it’s hard to see them playing a significant role for any brand in the future.Toyota will likely keep the Camry as long as possible given it has been a staple of the brand and recently received an update. But as we’ve seen with the Mazda6, which was a fixture of that brand’s line-up, no model is truly safe regardless of its heritage.The same is true for the premium end of the market too. The BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4 have often been amongst the best-selling sedans overall, competing on volume with the likes of the Mazda6, Sonata, Passat and others.But these luxury options are also suffering declining sales. The sales of mid-size sedans over $60,000 are down almost across the board, with the only model enjoying sales growth being the Audi A5 - which is coming off a small base and the departure of the A4.The fact that Audi has decided to retire the A4 badge and shift its sedan focus to the A5 is telling in itself. It underlines the shift from the traditional to this new era of both SUVs and electric vehicles.The recent reveal of the BMW iX3 as the first offering from the Bavarian brand’s so-called Neue Klasse is another sign that electric SUVs are the focus for many brands and sedans are an afterthought.This news will be disappointing for the sedan loyalists who simply don’t want to switch to a bigger SUV or ute. But the message is clear to those who still prefer sedans - get them while you can.

Tesla has unveiled new stripped-out, entry-level variants of its Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV for the US market.

Electric cars have come a long way in a short time, and China’s EV market has shown us just how far they’ve come.China is the world’s largest electric vehicle market — and the source of the majority of Australia’s EVs — and the latest data shows a remarkable stat.According to the China Passenger Car Association, the average driving range of an electric car on sale in China is 528km.That’s an increase of about 25 per cent in half a decade, according to the data.Those driving ranges are calculated via the more lenient China Light-duty Test Cycle (CLTC), rather than the benchmark WLTP used in Europe and Australia.The data still shows that electric car driving range has improved by about a quarter in a short time.In Australia the default range for a new EV is generally around 500km, dispelling the range anxiety myth.New EVs from China and sold in Australia, such as the Zeekr 7X have a driving range from between 480km and 615km, and Tesla has just launched a new Chinese-built Model 3 RWD Long Range with up to 750km of range.Deepal’s new E07 ute-SUV mash-up has a driving range of up to 550km and Kia’s China-sourced EV5 can be driven up to 555km, depending on the variant.There are even more on the way if China is a guide, with the data showing more than 30 EVs on sale there with a driving range of more than 600km and 26 more with a range of more than 500km.500km is the new expectation for buyers in Australia and manufacturers have responded with a wave of new models at or exceeding the range, with Chinese brands or China-sourced vehicles leading the charge.The massive jump in electric driving range isn’t reserved to EVs. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs).EREVs use a petrol engine purely as a generator to charge the battery, with the wheels driven only by electric motors. PHEVs use a combination of a petrol engine and electric motors fed by a battery to drive the wheels.In China a PHEV with 100km of driving range is the new expectation with the majority boasting an EV-only driving limit of more than the century mark.EREVs are even more, with the vast majority claiming an electric-only driving range of more than 150km.This kind of performance hasn’t been fully realised in Australia where PHEVs and to a lesser extent EREVs are starting to gain traction.Several new options from Chinese brands, such as BYD, Chery and MG are pushing the boundaries of the new tech.Chery’s new Tiggo 9 Super Hybrid has a driving range of up to 170km in Australia.What is even more astounding is China is doing it at a lower cost than rival makers, which is helping to boost the technology Down Under.

Tesla has announced a battery upgrade for its flagship Model 3 Performance as well as a new Long Range rear-wheel-drive variant of the long-serving pure-electric sedan.Available to order from today (03/10/25), the Model 3 Performance now features a higher capacity Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery increasing (WLTP) range from 528km to 571km, with pricing unchanged at $80,900, before on-road costs.With dual motors delivering 343kW/741Nm, the Model 3 Performance accelerates from 0-100km/h in just 3.1 seconds before storming on to a maximum velocity of 261km/h.At the same time, the local Model 3 line-up has been massaged with the addition of a new Long-Range RWD variant, replacing the existing Long-Range AWD model.With a (WLTP) range of “up to 750km”, a whopping 230km more than the standard RWD model, Tesla is claiming it as “the longest-range EV in Australia”.All Model 3s have also been tweaked cosmetically with black Tesla badging, and the brand has confirmed its ‘Supercharger’ charging network has grown to 163 sites across Australia which equates to 1003 plugs. Tesla lays claim to “the largest global, fast charging network in the world” and says its superchargers can add up to 282km of range in 15 minutes. Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive and Long-Range RWD models are powered by a single 190kW/375Nm electric motor with claimed ranges of 520km and 750km, respectively. The top-spec Performance puts out 343kW/741Nm and now has a range of 528km. Alloy wheels15.4-inch centre touchscreen8.0-inch second row displayNine-speaker audio (RWD)17-speaker audio (Performance)Wireless phone chargingGlass roofNavigation (with real-time traffic updates)Acoustic glassAmbient lightingVentilated front seatsFull Self-Driving (Supervised) - $10,100Home charger - $800Mobile charger - $55019-inch alloy rims - $1800Exterior - Pearl White Multi-Coat (no cost)Diamond BlackDeep Blue MetallicStealth GreyQuicksilverUltra RedInterior -BlackBlack and White (optional)The Tesla Model 3 received a maximum five-star ANCAP rating from assessment in 2025. Its Adult Occupant Protection score was 90 per cent, Child Occupant Protection was 95 per cent, Vulnerable Road User Protection was ranked at 89 per cent and Safety Assist came in at 88 per cent.Features -AEB (car-to-car junction, crossing and head-on)Lane keeping assistBlind-spot monitoringDriver fatigue monitoringForward collision warningIn-cabin child presence detectionActive cruise controlRear cross-traffic alertAuto emergency callNine airbagsActive bonnetFortified battery packMulti-collision brakeTesla’s standard warranty in Australia is four years/80,000km (including roadside assistance for the duration) with the drive battery covered for eight years/160,000km. Servicing is computer determined so the car will tell you when it's time to visit the workshop. However, Tesla recommends the following maintenance items and intervals:Brake fluid health check every four yearsCabin air filter replacement every two yearsWiper blade replacements every yearClean and lubricate brake calipers every year or 20,000kmRotate tyres every 10,000kmTesla also offers a mobile customer tyre repair service covering puncture repair, tyre replacement and wheel loan.The Tesla Model 3 is 4720mm long, 1848mm wide (excluding mirrors) and 1442mm tall with a 2875mm wheelbase. Boot space is 594 litres with 88L in the ‘frunk’.