Tesla Model 3 News

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’.

Tesla has officially launched its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) semi-autonomous driving function in Australia and New Zealand and it’s now available for public use.Australia and New Zealand are the first right-hand drive markets to receive FSD (Supervised). The EV carmaker had previously only offered it in left-hand drive markets, like the US.In order to use this technology you need to own a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y with the newest Hardware 4 (HW4) camera system.You also need to have purchased the $10,100 FSD (Supervised) package. A subscription option is also coming soon for $149 per month for eligible vehicles.If both of those boxes have been ticked, eligible customers will be able to enable FSD (Supervised) with an over-the-air (OTA) update when connected to WiFi.Using the on-board Tesla Vision surround-view camera system and a neural network, FSD (Supervised) “attempts” to drive to destinations by following road curves, stopping and negotiating intersections and roundabouts, making left and right turns.It’s also able to stop at traffic lights and stop signs, plus it reacts to other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists on the road.Like regular adaptive cruise control, it’s able to keep a set distance between a car in front. However, the system is able to conduct lane changes as well.Tesla stresses that FSD (Supervised) “does not make the vehicle autonomous” and it’s a “hands-on feature” that requires you to be fully attentive behind the wheel. You need to be ready to take immediate control of the vehicle.The car uses its cabin camera to read how much attention the driver is paying to the road ahead.Tesla claims it doesn’t require full visibility of the driver’s eyes in order to monitor attentiveness. This means the system stays fully active while wearing sunglasses, for example.If the cabin camera can’t see the driver’s hand and arm locations, the central touchscreen will prompt the driver to periodically apply slight force to the steering wheel.If a driver repeatedly looks away from the road, prompts will play saying to pay attention to the road. If these are ignored, they escalate in intensity, then display an alert message saying FSD (Supervised) is unavailable for the current drive.In the worst case scenario, the car will sound a continuous chime, turn on the hazard lights and bring the car to a complete stop.Tesla notes that drivers can be suspended from using FSD (Supervised) if improper use is detected. Five strikes are granted.At this stage Tesla hasn’t detailed how older vehicles will be able to receive FSD (Supervised) approval despite owners being able to buy the package for years. It’s likely a retrofit option will be offered eventually.Test drives of Tesla Model 3 and Model Y examples with FSD (Supervised) are now available at Tesla dealers around Australia.

The future is here and it’s going to blow your mind. Tesla is about to launch its Full Self Driving (Supervised) in Australia, and CarsGuide was among the first people to trial it on Australian roads.

It seems Tesla is listening to customer feedback after all and is willing to right its wrongs.

Tesla has issued a warning to Australian owners about driving their vehicles through tunnels with the cruise control system activated, warning that it is a “known-limitation” of the model’s Traffic-Aware Cruise Control. The situation came to light most recently through user complaints of phantom braking when the cruise system is active in a tunnel, with a complaint to Tesla eliciting the warning. It is also included in Tesla’s user manual.

Tesla has clawed itself out of its sales slump in Australia, achieving its best monthly sales figure in the past 12 months.

Euro NCAP’s Technical Manager of Assisted Driving Systems, Adriano Palao, has criticised Tesla’s autopilot software, going so far as to say the suite is “misleading consumers about the system’s capabilities”.The fresh retort of Tesla’s autonomous driving technology comes as Euro NCAP detailed the differences in a variety of similar systems on the market, noting “some systems are more user-centric and safe than others”.Performance testing for the Model S - which is no longer sold in Australia - had the safety body determining that it performed poorly awarding it just 30 per cent for its Assistance Competence score.The Assistance Competence score ranks autonomous features for their performance, clarity of information, how they communicate capability limitations, driver monitoring, and driver collaboration. It is distinguished from the Safety Backup score, which ranks how the systems avoid a collision in a variety of situations, as well as when a sensor is blocked or the driver is unresponsive.The body noted it was jarring the Model S scored an Excellent 94 per cent for its Safety Backup score, but just 30 per cent for Assistance Competence.Euro NCAP said not only does Tesla name the system Autopilot and suggest full automation in its promotional material, but also noted the system’s steering input was resistant to driver attempts to override it, and upon doing so, the entire system automatically disengages, “limiting its usefulness”.The body also noted issues with the centrally-mounted touchscreen, in that the driver had to take their eyes off the road to view alerts.Euro NCAP ultimately said: “Tesla is misleading consumers about their autopilot system’s capabilities simply through its name and marketing, which could have potential safety implications.”Tesla was not the only company marketed on its safety credentials who came under fire in the latest round of autonomous system testing. Even Volvo’s new EX30 crossover was in the firing line, with the safety body earmarking similar concerns about its autonomous driving tech.The EX30 performed better than the Tesla in the Assistance Competence score, landing at 62 per cent, although was marked down for similar reasons to the Model S, it recorded a score less than the Tesla for its Safety Backup, at 72 per cent.Both cars, alongside the MG ZS, were awarded an overall Moderate rating for their active safety suites. Other cars considered in the round of testing included the Kia EV3, Porsche Macan, and Toyota bZ4X, all of which received a Very Good overall score, while the Mazda CX-80 and Xpeng G9 recorded a Good overall rating.Euro NCAP’s latest round of autonomous driving feature testing comes as the technology proliferates across a much wider spectrum of the market. Many brands now spruik some level of autonomous driving through an advanced cruise control suite, although as Euro NCAP notes, not all of these systems are created equal, and just ticking feature boxes does not always result in a safer system.In addition to more thorough testing of autonomous driving systems, Euro NCAP will also include standards for automakers to include physical buttons and dials from 2026, labelling the overuse of touchscreens an “industry-wide problem, raising the risk of distraction crashes”.Euro NCAP said the new protocols will encourage manufacturers to use separate, physical controls for basic functions in an intuitive manner, limiting eyes off-road time and therefore promoting safer driving.Under the new protocols, cars will be marked down by not including physical switches for indicators, hazard lights, the horn, operating windscreen wipers, and activating the SOS function.

Musk's erratic communications surrounding low-cost models caused confusion within Tesla and with investors according to a new report.

ANCAP, Australia’s crash-testing authority, has awarded five-star safety ratings to the Tesla Model 3 and new Kia EV3 and MG S5 EV.

Tesla has quietly increased the range of its entry-level Model 3 electric sedan for no extra charge.