Tesla Upgrades Model 3 in China With Larger Screen, Vehicle-to-Load Power

Tesla has announced upgrades for its Model 3 vehicles sold in China, including a larger 16-inch touchscreen and the introduction of vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, allowing the car to export electricity.

The updated Model 3 in China now features a 16-inch central touchscreen, an upgrade from the previous 15.4-inch display, boasting higher resolution and refresh rates. Additionally, buyers can opt for a light gray interior with a black fabric headliner. The V2L function enables the car's battery to supply up to 2.2 kilowatts of AC power via a separately purchased adapter, suitable for powering external devices like small refrigerators, tools, or camping equipment. For the Model Y with three rows of seats, no adapter is needed. This feature is already available on Model Y vehicles in China.

In contrast, the US version of the Model 3 still uses a 15.4-inch screen, and V2L capability is primarily limited to certain Model Y variants and the Cybertruck. Older vehicles cannot be retrofitted with V2L due to hardware requirements. Tesla is rolling out V2L for the Model 3 in Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, with plans for further market expansion. No launch date for the new screen or V2L feature has been announced for Israel.

To incentivize purchases, Tesla is offering temporary discounts and benefits for Model 3 buyers in China until October 31. The base rear-wheel-drive Model 3 has a list price of approximately 235,500 yuan, with the effective price after incentives dropping to around 222,500 yuan, roughly $33,000.