Tesla’s flagship electric crossover has officially made its return to the world’s largest automotive market. More than a year after Tesla launched the refreshed Model Y Performance internationally, the sportiest trim has officially gone live on the Chinese order configurator, with production builds rolling off the assembly lines at Gigafactory Shanghai.
The launch details were highlighted on X by Tesla watcher @tslaming, who noted that production vehicles are already arriving at delivery hubs and showrooms across the country. Delivery estimates for new orders are sitting at 2-6 weeks at the time of writing, with the first customer handoffs expected in less than two weeks.
Priced at RMB 369,000 (roughly $55,000 USD), the new crossover rockets from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds, delivering serious straight-line speed alongside an impressive top speed of 250 km/h. A CLTC-estimated range of 659 km rounds out the new Model Y Performance’s Asian specs.
Serious Power and Regional Exclusives
The China-built variant packs a mechanical (electrical?) punch under the sheet metal. The rear drive unit is Tesla’s new TL2 motor pushing 291 kW, which pairs with a 176 kW front motor to deliver a combined 467 kW (about 635 horsepower).
The cabin layout includes the larger 16-inch center display, bringing it in line with the Model Y Performance Tesla launched in the U.S. last fall. Tesla’s Model Y Performance boasts sport seats with thigh extension, alongside an adaptive suspension setup, high-performance brakes, and 6.1 inches of ground clearance (as opposed to 6.6 inches on the regular Model Y). Owners will also be able to take advantage of bidirectional power transfer, with Tesla already selling a new vehicle-to-load (V2L) Powershare adapter for the Model Y Performance (and Model Y L) as of last year that lets the car power external electronics and camping equipment.
Styling options feature six exterior colors, highlighted by Glacier Blue. The icy finish remains exclusive to vehicles produced at Gigafactory Shanghai for the Asia-Pacific region, and this marks the first time it has been available on a Performance vehicle. Inside, buyers can choose between standard All Black or Zen Grey upholstery.
Zen Grey, which debuted on the three-row, six-seat Model Y L when it first launched in China last year, replaces the traditional Black and White interior option. Tesla expanded the Zen Grey interior option to more Model Y trims in China earlier this spring, and it has since spread overseas to Europe as well. In the U.S., however, Zen Grey is still only available on one vehicle: the Model Y L.
Completing the Chinese Lineup
The arrival of the Performance badge marks the completion of the local Model Y family. When the “Juniper” refresh first launched in early 2025, Tesla temporarily removed the top-tier trim in China. The factory initially focused on mass-market Rear-Wheel Drive and Long Range All-Wheel Drive variants, followed by regional priorities like the Long Range RWD and the stretched, three-row Model Y L.
Now, however, it looks like Giga Shanghai and Giga Texas are engaged in a bit of an exchange program. The former has exported the Model Y L, which Tesla has been producing at Giga Texas for weeks now with first deliveries set to go out sometime this month, and in return completed its Model Y lineup by launching the Performance trim.
Localizing production at Giga Shanghai also carries global ripple effects. Because the Shanghai plant serves as a major export hub, markets like Australia and New Zealand that previously imported Performance units from Gigafactory Berlin could soon receive vehicles directly from China. With customer deliveries kicking off in two weeks, the quickest Model Y has finally reclaimed its spot in Shanghai’s catalog.
