China’s latest Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) catalog has revealed the range and battery specifications of Tesla‘s upcoming Model Y Performance for the first time, marking another step toward the variant’s launch in the country.
The variant entered the new energy vehicle (NEV) catalog for purchase tax exemptions released on Thursday, adding to the powertrain details first revealed in a separate MIIT vehicle catalog on July 10.
According to the listing, the Model Y Performance carries a CLTC range of 659 kilometers — equivalent to 409 miles.
The Model Y Performance uses a 78.4 kWh ternary lithium-ion battery pack weighing 448 kilograms, yielding an energy density of approximately 175 Wh/kg.
Curb weight stands at 2,027 kilograms.
LG Energy Solution’s China subsidiary supplies the battery cells — the same pack used in Tesla‘s longest-range models in the country.
Range Comparison
The 659 km figure falls well short of the Model Y Long Range RWD, which uses the same 78.4 kWh pack and achieves 821 km on the CLTC cycle.
The Model 3 Long Range RWD, also equipped with an identical battery, reaches 830 km — Tesla‘s longest-range model in China.
The six-seat Model Y L, which runs a larger 82.0 kWh pack, sits at 751 km.
The gap between the Performance variant and those models is consistent with a dual-motor, high-output drivetrain drawing more energy.
Combined peak power across the 176-kW front motor and 291-kW rear motor reaches 467 kW — far above the 225 kW of the Long Range RWD single-motor variant.
A 250 km/h top speed, staggered 21-inch wheels (255/35R21 front, 275/35R21 rear), and the additional weight of an all-wheel-drive system all contribute to higher consumption per kilometer.
What Was Already Revealed
The new variant first appeared in an MIIT vehicle catalog published a month ago, with a public disclosure period running from July 11 to July 17.
The filing had confirmed the Shanghai-built vehicle’s dual-motor AWD layout, 250 km/h top speed, 21-inch wheel fitment, and its ternary lithium-ion battery from LG Energy Solution — all markers pointing toward a Performance positioning.
According to the filing, the Performance variant measures 4,796 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, and 1,611 mm tall on a 2,890 mm wheelbase.
The model shares the same width and wheelbase as the standard five-seat Model Y but sits 13 mm lower, consistent with the suspension and aerodynamic changes typical of a performance setup.
The purchase tax exemption listing released this week fills in the remaining blanks: range, battery capacity, weight, and energy density.
Vehicles that clear both the MIIT catalog and the NEV purchase tax exemption catalog have typically completed all major regulatory steps needed before a market launch, which tends to follow within a few months.
Absent for Over a Year
A Model Y Performance is not new to China — but the trim has been off sale for more than a year.
Before Tesla rolled out the redesigned ‘Juniper’ Model Y in early 2025, the Chinese lineup included three variants: rear-wheel-drive, long-range all-wheel-drive, and an all-wheel-drive Performance version priced at 354,900 yuan ($52,600).
The Performance trim was dropped when the facelifted lineup launched with only two variants — rear-wheel-drive and long-range all-wheel-drive.
Tesla later expanded the refreshed lineup to four trims, adding a Long Range RWD option and the six-seat Model Y L, however the Performance badge never returned.
Meanwhile, Tesla revived the Performance variant in other markets.
An updated Model Y Performance debuted first in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in August 2025, before arriving in North America in October.
The trim reached Canada in December 2025 and Australia in March. China had been the notable holdout.
Sales Context
The filing arrives as Tesla faces a sharply divergent picture in China — domestic demand under pressure, exports surging to record levels.
GigaShanghai shipped 295,324 vehicles abroad in the first seven months of 2026, surpassing the 226,034 units exported for all of 2025 by 30.6%, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
July alone accounted for 66,330 export units — a 143.3% year-over-year jump and the strongest export month in the plant’s history.
However, domestic sales moved in the opposite direction.
Tesla delivered just 27,249 vehicles in China in July, down 32.9% from a year ago and marking the second consecutive month of year-over-year decline.
[tesla china]
Over the broader period, Tesla‘s second-quarter deliveries in China fell 2.1% year-on-year — a fifth consecutive quarterly decline.
China’s share of Tesla‘s global deliveries slipped to 26.3%, dropping below 30% for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2020.
Current Lineup and Pricing
Tesla currently sells four Model Y variants in China: the base RWD starting at 263,500 yuan ($39,100), the Long Range RWD at 288,500 yuan ($42,800), the Long Range AWD at 313,500 yuan ($46,500), and the six-seat Model Y L topping the lineup at 339,000 yuan ($50,300).
The pre-facelift Performance had been priced at 354,900 yuan.
Tesla has not disclosed pricing or a launch date for the returning variant.
Once on sale, the Performance would become the flagship of the five-seat Model Y range in China, adding another option for buyers as the company works to stabilize domestic demand against intensifying competition from local automakers.
