Â
>>REAL-TIME UPDATES IN THE WIRE. CLICK HERE<<<
Â
Â
Tesla will soon launch a new China-made Model 3, the entire lineup of which will use M3P batteries provided by CATL, with range improvements of at least 10%, Sina Tech said today, citing two people familiar with the matter.
The current Model 3 sedans produced at Tesla Giga Shanghai use by CATL’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries with CLTC ranges of 556 km to 675 km. With the new battery packs, their ranges are expected to exceed 600 km and 700 km, the report said.
Earlier this month, Chinese news outlet LatePost reported that CATL would start supplying Tesla with M3P batteries in the fourth quarter on Model Y vehicles using 72-kWh packs, which will be available early next year.
Both the Model 3 and Model Y have room for price reductions with the new packs due to the lower cost of CATL’s M3P batteries, according to the report on Thursday.
Caijing Magazine, citing Tesla China source, reported on Thursday the news is a “rumor” and does not match the facts.
Sina Tech on Thursday also said said that Tesla has no plans to use BYD batteries in vehicles produced at Giga Shanghai.
On August 10, Sina Tech reported that BYD has started delivery of blade batteries to Tesla’s plant in Berlin, Germany, the first Tesla plant to use BYD’s batteries and the first Tesla cars with the batteries are expected to roll off the assembly line within one month at the earliest.