Tesla launched its redesigned “Highland” Mannequin 3 in a number of international locations this 12 months, although the U.S. and different North American markets weren’t part of that record. Nonetheless, as a number of Mannequin 3 Highland items have been noticed within the U.S. this week, it appears possible that Tesla might be making ready to launch the up to date automobile within the coming weeks or months — although it’s nonetheless not solely clear when.
A number of onlookers have noticed the Mannequin 3 Highland in California this week, together with John of Tesla Homeowners Silicon Valley, who noticed one of many refreshed automobiles subsequent to a Cybertruck on the Firebaugh Supercharger on Friday. John shared a video of the expertise on X, together with a whole walkaround of the redesigned electrical sedan.
The Mannequin 3 Highland was fully uncovered, not like many previous sightings within the U.S., through which check variations of the automobile have been seen with their bumpers wrapped.
As John factors out within the video, the refreshed Mannequin 3 features a signal saying it’s an “Engineering Automobile” on the driving force’s-side door, which is smart for the reason that Highland hasn’t but been launched within the U.S. The automobile additionally features a Texas producer’s license plate.
Apparently sufficient, the sedan additionally contains the Chinese language Tesla badge on the again, suggesting that this specific unit may have been constructed at Gigafactory Shanghai, the place the automaker at the moment produces the Highland.
John additionally stated that each the Mannequin 3 Highland and Cybertruck had been being pushed collectively by Tesla workers, although he didn’t get an opportunity to speak to them. You possibly can see his submit with the walkaround video of the Highland beneath, together with a photograph of the 2 side-by-side.
Tesla Mannequin 3 Highland full stroll round. I noticed this right now on the Firebaugh supercharger. #tesla #tsla #model3 #fyp #viral #cybertruck #teslacybertruck pic.twitter.com/Vi7h3u0FIf
— Tesla Homeowners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) December 29, 2023
Together with the Firebaugh Supercharger sighting, X consumer BLKMDL3 fittingly noticed a black Mannequin 3 Highland on the Olympic Boulevard Supercharger on Friday, additionally together with a Texas producer’s plate. Nevertheless, this unit didn’t embody the Chinese language Tesla badge on the again, not like the one noticed at Firebaugh.
Tesla has been making ready for the Mannequin 3 Highland for years now, and Teslarati first reported on the automaker’s plans to re-tool the Fremont manufacturing unit for the Highland final December.
In one other sighting on Friday, X consumer Robert Scoble noticed a white Mannequin 3 Highland driving close to Tesla’s Fremont manufacturing unit. The automobile additionally included a Texas producer plate, nevertheless it didn’t embody the Chinese language Tesla badge.
Following the sighting, Scoble spoke with a Tesla worker who stated that re-tooling for the Mannequin 3 Highland had already been accomplished on the Fremont manufacturing unit, which is per the automaker’s previous statements about upgrading the plant in the course of the third quarter.
As well as, Scoble stated that the worker thought there can be an announcement in regards to the automobile in January, suggesting that the Highland’s U.S. launch might be imminent.
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