Differences Between Imported and Domestic Model 3

[DeAaron]

The main differences between the domestic and imported Model 3 lie in the price and manufacturing process. Essentially, there is no difference between the imported and domestic models, except that the domestic Tesla has further lowered the entry threshold for Tesla. Here are the differences between the imported and domestic Model 3: 1. There are certain differences in details and configurations between the domestic and imported models, as can be seen from the car's price. 2. After the domestic Model 3 officially went on sale, to distinguish it from the imported model, the rear badge of the domestic model was changed to Chinese characters, which gives a very good overall impression. 3. Unlike the imported model, the domestic Model 3 has replaced the window glass supplier for the four doors and the C-pillar triangular window from the imported version's Saint-Gobain with the Chinese brand Fuyao Glass. 4. The domestic model also includes some localization settings for the infotainment system, with iQiyi and Tencent Video integrated into the system. Additionally, this car offers a 4-year or 80,000-kilometer vehicle warranty and an 8-year or 160,000-kilometer battery and drive unit warranty, which are basically consistent with the imported version.

[StJoy]

When it comes to the differences between imported and domestically produced Model 3s, I've seen plenty of actual cars with my own eyes. The most obvious distinction is naturally the price—the domestically produced version, after subsidies, is about 100,000 RMB cheaper than the imported one. The money saved could cover several years of Supercharging. In terms of hardware, early batches of the domestically produced version did have minor issues, like uneven door seals, but post-2022 models have much finer craftsmanship, with panel gaps more uniform than even the imported version. The battery is a fundamental difference: the imported version uses Panasonic's 2170 ternary lithium batteries, while the domestically produced version currently mainly relies on CATL's lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The latter may see more noticeable range reduction in winter, but they offer longer charge-discharge cycle life. The most surprising upgrade is the audio system in the domestically produced version—13 speakers including a subwoofer, a significant step up from the imported base model's 8-speaker setup. Oh, and now the domestically produced version comes standard with a heated steering wheel, a godsend for users in northern climates, leaving older imported model owners envious.

[DiRowan]

As someone who has thoroughly experienced both generations of the model, I find the subtle differences quite intriguing. The imported version came with front fog lights as standard, while the domestic version removed them entirely—though with the prevalence of LED headlights now, it's not a big deal. Early imported models used Intel Atom chips for the infotainment system, which were noticeably sluggish, but now both versions have been uniformly upgraded to AMD Ryzen, making operations incredibly smooth. In terms of charging performance, the domestic version has surpassed the imported one, supporting a peak power of 250kW with V3 supercharging, significantly faster than the imported version's 170kW. For parts, the domestic version uses Fuyao glass and Valeo wipers, which actually improve durability. The biggest advantage is maintenance convenience—replacing a bumper on the domestic version takes about a week, while imported parts might take a month. For long-term ownership, the domestic version is recommended, as it also holds its value more steadily.

[MacSteven]

Briefly summarize three key differences. First, the battery thermal management logic differs: the imported version uses ternary lithium batteries requiring active liquid cooling to maintain temperature, while the domestically produced LFP version is more energy-efficient in southern regions. Second, the autonomous driving hardware: pre-2021 imported versions feature HW2.5 chips with only 72 TOPS computing power, whereas current domestic models come standard with HW4.0, boasting a 5-fold increase in computing power. Third, charging compatibility: domestic versions support the new national DC charging standard, offering better compatibility with third-party charging piles. Finally, a reminder: pay special attention to battery health when purchasing used imported models, as early batches with 18650 cells may exhibit over 15% degradation.