Tesla Launches Model Y Performance in China

Tesla has added a new Model Y Performance to its China lineup, giving buyers a 250-km/h version of the electric SUV as Model Y deliveries in the country fall for a third consecutive month.

The new all-wheel-drive model is priced at 369,000 yuan ($54,450), making it the most expensive Model Y available in China. Tesla lists an estimated delivery window of two to six weeks.

Tesla gives the Model Y a performance makeover

The five-seat Performance can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and has a claimed CLTC range of 659 kilometers. It uses a 78.4-kWh battery, while its front and rear motors are rated at 176 kW and 291 kW, respectively.

Tesla has also made several changes to distinguish the Performance from the rest of the Chinese Model Y range. The SUV gets revised aerodynamic bodywork, a carbon-fiber rear spoiler, 21-inch Arachnid 2.0 wheels and red brake calipers, according to CNEV Post.

The interior includes carbon-fiber trim and ventilated front sport seats with adjustable thigh supports. Tesla also adds continuously variable dampers, adaptive suspension and multiple performance-oriented driving modes.

Maximum charging power is 250 kW, with Tesla estimating that the vehicle can recover roughly 250 kilometers of range in 15 minutes.

Model Y sales have declined three months in a row

The timing of the launch is notable because the Model Y remains central to Tesla’s Chinese business even as its sales weaken. The SUV represented more than 70% of Tesla’s deliveries in China during the first eight months of 2026.

August deliveries reached 29,260 vehicles, a 25.76% decline from a year earlier. June and July also posted year-over-year declines of 13.81% and 18.23%, respectively.

Model Y deliveries totaled 226,931 vehicles through August, down 6.10% year over year. Tesla’s overall deliveries in China fell 12.44% to 316,251 vehicles during the same period.

Tesla is also offering a 10,000-yuan discount on eligible Model Y inventory vehicles delivered by September 30, adding another sales incentive as the company enters the final weeks of the quarter.

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