The Model 3 refresh may be coming sooner rather than later — and the discounting of Model 3 inventory could be a prelude to the update.
The so-called “Project Highland” was spotted by The Kilowatts (via Teslarati) on public roads in California.
Highland Model 3 changes include “new headlight designs and Hardware 4 cameras, which are now being installed on Model S, Model X, and Model Y vehicles,” according to Teslarati.
A rear diffusor was also spotted.
“The earliest iterations of the Model S Plaid were fitted with diffusers, which are used to increase downforce at high speeds by accelerating low-pressure air beneath the car and channeling it through the rear portion of the vehicle,” Teslarati explained.
The Model 3 refresh is expected in the third quarter, Ryan Levenson of The Kilowatts, told me in an email. Levenson snapped the images of the camouflaged Model 3.
New high-volume product that Musk has been alluding to?
CEO Elon Musk showed a silhouette (below) of a “new product” at the 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting in May.
“I just want to emphasize that we are actually building a new product…we are actually designing a new product…we’re not sitting in our hands,” Musk said in May.
Previously, in March, Musk showed a slide (at bottom) at its Investors Day event of two vehicles — concealed by sheets — with radically different contours.
Lower price
Tesla has been cutting the price of the Model 3 in inventory, positioning the Model 3 — with the tax credit — as one of the least expensive EVs in the U.S.
With the federal tax credit (full credit eligibility happened this week) the price has dropped to $30,000 in some markets. And potentially much lower if you include state rebates.
One theory is Tesla is trying to liquidate inventory ahead of a Model 3 refresh.
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