Tesla files new Model Y Performance in China with 659 km range, 78.4 kWh pack

• The new variant, expected to be the Model Y Performance, has a 78.4 kWh battery pack, the same one used in Tesla's longest-range models in China.
• The 659 km range is lower than that of the Model Y's long-range versions, consistent with a performance positioning.

The new Model Y variant that Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) filed in China has a range of 659 kilometers.

The model entered a new energy vehicle (NEV) catalog for purchase tax exemptions released by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Thursday. This is the first public confirmation of the variant's range and battery information.

The vehicle has a 78.4 kWh battery pack that weighs 448 kilograms, implying an energy density of about 175 Wh/kg. Its curb weight is 2,027 kilograms and its range is 659 km.

That battery pack is the same one used in Tesla's longest-range models in China, supplied by LG Energy Solution's plant in the country.

The Model Y Long Range RWD, which uses the same pack, has a range of 821 km, while the Model 3 Long Range RWD is rated at 830 km.

The 659 km figure is significantly lower than those two models, and also below the 751 km of the six-seat Model Y L, consistent with a dual-motor performance positioning.

The new variant first appeared in a vehicle catalog released by the MIIT on July 10. According to the information available at the time, its top speed is 250 km/h, which is higher than the 201 km/h of all currently available Model Y variants.

The new vehicle uses a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup, with front and rear motors rated at 176 kW and 291 kW respectively. It comes with 21-inch wheels, another pointer to its performance positioning.

Tesla currently sells the Model Y RWD, Long Range RWD and Long Range AWD in China, as well as the six-seat Model Y L.

The RWD version starts at 263,500 yuan ($38,820), while the Model Y L is priced at 339,000 yuan.

Once launched, the Performance version could become the flagship of the lineup.

Tesla delivered 27,249 vehicles in China in July, down 32.91% year-on-year and the second consecutive month of decline.

The Model Y remains the mainstay, with 25,158 units delivered in China in July, accounting for 92.33% of the company's local deliveries. The Model 3 contributed just 2,091 units, down 78.77%.

Overseas markets, meanwhile, are supporting capacity utilization at the Shanghai plant. The facility exported 66,330 vehicles in July, a monthly record, making up 70.88% of its wholesale sales for the month.

In the first seven months, the Shanghai plant exported 295,324 vehicles, already exceeding its full-year 2025 total.