Image: Tesla
Tesla has officially begun production of the 2026 Model 3 at its Fremont, California, factory, according to longtime Tesla watcher Sawyer Merritt (@SawyerMerritt). The first units rolling off the line are the new Model 3 Premium, a rebranding of the “Long Range” trim with several subtle but notable updates.
The 2026 Model 3 Premium includes all-black exterior logos, a front bumper camera with a washer, and the long-awaited return of the turn signal stalk — a feature Tesla removed during the 2023 “Highland” refresh. The company revamped its “Long Range” trim to “Premium” earlier this week, coinciding with the launch of its new Model 3 Standard and Model Y Standard, Tesla’s most affordable vehicles to date.
Image: @SawyerMerritt
The start of production indicates that Tesla could begin delivering the slightly refreshed 2026 Model 3 Premium in the coming weeks. Deliveries of the entry-level Model 3 Standard RWD are scheduled to begin next month.
The reintroduction of the turn signal stalk has been one of the most talked-about changes to the new Model 3. Tesla recently brought the stalk back in the U.S. and reintroduced it in China this August, following driver feedback that the touch-sensitive turn buttons were unintuitive. The company has even launched a retrofit program in the U.S. for existing Model 3 owners to add the stalk back for $595, though Tesla has confirmed that no front bumper camera retrofit will be offered.
The front-facing bumper camera is another key addition to the 2026 Model 3, improving visibility for parking and low-speed maneuvers. Tesla’s top-tier Model 3 Performance will also feature the same updates, including the return of the stalk and the new front camera.
With production underway in Fremont, the 2026 Model 3 lineup marks another step in Tesla’s ongoing refinement of its best-selling sedan — and signals that deliveries of the refreshed model could be right around the corner.
