Tesla Is Quietly Upgrading Its China Cars. The Model Y Performance Is Coming Back.

New filings with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) show Tesla is lining up more powerful versions of the China-made Model 3 and Model Y, and the Model Y Performance looks set to make a comeback.

The paperwork, all under catalogue entry 194, covers several dual-motor variants of both cars. The big change is a new front motor. Tesla is swapping in a unit coded TL2, rated at 176 kW, in place of the older 3D3 front motor that ran between 137 kW and 142 kW depending on the trim. The rear motors stay the same across the board.

Here’s how it breaks down across the filings:

• One Model 3 variant lists two setups. The first is the current front 3D3 (137 kW) paired with a rear 4D2 (265 kW). The second swaps in the front TL2 (176 kW) with the same 265 kW rear.
• Another Model 3 goes from front 3D3 (137 kW) / rear 3D7 (194 kW) to front TL2 (176 kW) / rear 3D7 (194 kW).
• On the Model Y side, one filing moves from front 3D3 (142 kW) / rear 3D7 (198 kW) to front TL2 (176 kW) / rear 3D7 (198 kW). Another Model Y goes from front 3D3 (137 kW) / rear 3D7 (194 kW) to front TL2 (176 kW) / rear 3D7 (194 kW).

So in each case the rear motor is untouched and the front motor gets the bump. A stronger front motor should help with high-speed acceleration, thermal management, and gives Tesla more room to play with software-based performance tuning down the road.

The Model Y Performance is back

The most interesting filing is a separate Model Y that reads like the Performance trim returning to China. It pairs the 176 kW TL2 front motor with a beefier 291 kW rear motor (coded 4D2), and it’s the only one in the batch with a listed top speed of 250 km/h.

The spec sheet backs that up. It measures 4,796 mm long, 1,920 mm wide and 1,611 mm tall, with a 2,890 mm wheelbase and a curb weight of 2,027 kg. It rides on staggered 21-inch performance tires, 255/35R21 up front and 275/35R21 at the rear, and seats five. The filing photos show a white Model Y with red brake calipers, dark performance wheels and a “TESLA” light bar across the back.

As with the rest of the lineup, all the registered vehicles come with Event Data Recorders and the option for onboard Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) hardware.

Why now

The timing lines up with Tesla trying to shore up its numbers in China. The Model Y is still doing the heavy lifting, making up more than 73 percent of Tesla’s local deliveries in June 2026, but the Model 3 has been squeezed by domestic rivals. By spreading out its powertrain options and bringing back the Performance trim, Tesla is reaching for a few new levers to turn its recent delivery slump around.