This yr will mark the sixth anniversary of the Tesla Mannequin 3, which – within the automotive world – often means it’s time for a refresh. And in the event you’re following the American EV producer, you already know that its smallest mannequin is certain to be upgraded in a method or one other, courtesy of the so-called Mission Highland.
Earlier this week, a camouflaged check automobile with producer plates was noticed driving down the street, considerably confirming that Tesla is as much as one thing. The photograph was posted by u/the_frog_said on Reddit’s r/teslamotors subreddit, saying that the disguised Mannequin 3 had the entrance and rear bumpers lined.
Judging by the quantity plates, it’s the identical check automobile noticed in December 2022 in a parking lot in Santa Cruz, once we received our first take a look at the camouflaged prototype.
Tesla is tight-lipped about this matter and till now, it hasn’t printed something official concerning the upcoming facelift for the Mannequin 3, however to be honest, not many legacy automakers announce their plans for automobile revamps. Nevertheless, in keeping with a Reuters report that quotes an insider, the American model is predicted to replace its smallest mannequin in the identical approach it did with the Mannequin S in 2021.
The modifications are anticipated to be principally below the pores and skin, with enhancements to the infotainment system, manufacturing, and presumably the batteries, however judging by the camouflaged prototype’s look, we assume Tesla will do some type of visible refresh, too.
The facelifted Tesla Mannequin 3 is predicted to enter manufacturing by the third quarter of 2023 on the firm’s Shanghai Gigafactory first, adopted by the Fremont facility in Northern California. Filings for modifications to the Fremont manufacturing facility had been noticed as early as mid-2022, signalling that Mission Highland was underway earlier than Reuters reported on it.
We anticipate to be taught extra concerning the refreshed Mannequin 3 throughout Tesla’s 2023 Investor Day on March 1, when the corporate will talk about, amongst different issues, the “era 3 platform,” which some have speculated that it’s associated to Mission Highland.