Tesla Launches 635-HP Model Y Performance in China

AUSTIN, Texas — Tesla's quickest crossover has reclaimed its spot in the world's largest auto market. The company has officially launched the refreshed Model Y Performance in China, priced at RMB 369,000 (about $55,000), with production builds already rolling off the line at Gigafactory Shanghai and first customer deliveries expected within two weeks.

The China-built Performance packs a serious punch: a new TL2 rear motor producing 291 kW paired with a 176 kW front unit for a combined 467 kW, or roughly 635 horsepower. That is good for a 0-100 km/h sprint of 3.5 seconds, a 250 km/h top speed and a CLTC-estimated range of 659 km. The launch completes the local Model Y family after Giga Shanghai spent the year prioritizing mass-market and regional variants, part of the same production strength that helped drive Tesla's September sales rebound across Europe.

Performance hardware, regional exclusives

The Performance trim brings the larger 16-inch center display in line with its U.S. counterpart, along with sport seats featuring thigh extensions, an adaptive suspension setup, high-performance brakes and a lowered 6.1 inches of ground clearance. Owners also get bidirectional power transfer, and Tesla already sells a vehicle-to-load Powershare adapter that lets the car run external electronics and camping gear.

Buyers can choose from six exterior colors, headlined by Glacier Blue, an icy finish exclusive to Giga Shanghai vehicles for the Asia-Pacific region and offered on a Performance model for the first time. Inside, the choice is between All Black and the newer Zen Grey upholstery, the latter first introduced on the three-row Model Y L.

Completing the Chinese lineup

The Performance badge fills the last gap in China's Model Y range. When the "Juniper" refresh arrived in early 2025, Tesla temporarily dropped the top trim locally, focusing first on Rear-Wheel Drive and Long Range All-Wheel Drive builds, then regional priorities like the stretched, six-seat Model Y L. Now Giga Shanghai and Giga Texas look like they are running an exchange program: Texas builds the Model Y L for export while Shanghai rounds out its catalog with the Performance. Tesla's manufacturing depth continues to be a quiet strength, much like the safety engineering behind the five-star 2026 Model 3.

Global ripple effects

Localizing Performance production in Shanghai carries reach well beyond China. Because the plant serves as a major export hub, markets such as Australia and New Zealand that previously imported Performance units from Gigafactory Berlin could soon receive vehicles directly from China, shortening delivery times and tightening the supply chain. With deliveries kicking off in roughly two weeks, the quickest Model Y is back where demand is fiercest.

For Tesla, the launch is a reminder that even as the company pours energy into autonomy and robotics, its core vehicle business keeps expanding its lineup and its global footprint. As reported by Not a Tesla App, the refreshed Model Y Performance is live on the Chinese configurator now, and the first buyers will be behind the wheel before the month is out.