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Tesla Model 3: Long Range rear-drive culled overseas

Tesla has continued to shuffle its Model 3 range around the world, with American reports suggesting production of the rear-wheel drive Long Range variant has been abruptly halted.


According to Inside EVs, customers with a Long Range rear-driver on order were emailed this week and informed production has been "immediately halted".

"This means that this version is no longer available. Current offers are no longer delivered. We are currently examining the extent to which the plant has produced your previously placed orders," the email says.

The model was removed from Tesla's online configurator recently, but customers have still been able to 'special order' it through showrooms. Now, it's no more.

With a 523km claimed range on the (more generous) EPA test cycle and a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds, the Long Range rear-drive was seen by many as the best-value Model 3 offering.

Buyers will now be forced to step down into a rear-wheel drive Standard Range Plus, with a claimed range of 386km, or pay more for the all-wheel drive Long Range.

The decision doesn't impact Australia, where the line-up starts with the Standard Range Plus, priced from $66,000 before on-road costs with 460km of range on the (more lenient) NEDC test cycle.

Moving to the dual-motor Performance bumps that price to $85,000 before on-roads, and boosts claimed range to 560km.

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