Tesla’s cost-effective 2026 ‘Model 3’ has completed certification in South Korea, paving the way for its domestic launch.
On the 10th, the Korean Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Environment’s Automotive Emissions and Noise Certification System (KENCIS) confirmed that Tesla Korea has successfully certified all three trims of the Model 3 – Performance, Premium Long Range RWD, and Standard RWD – for emissions, noise, and driving range.
With certification complete, pre-order customers could receive their new vehicles as early as next month, given the typical two to four-week timeframe from certification to delivery.
Tesla Korea initiated pre-sales for the new ‘Model 3’ last month.
The 2026 Tesla Model 3 is positioned as a volume model to secure leadership in Korea’s EV market. New trims have been introduced while maintaining the ‘Highland’ design identity launched in 2024. The lineup now includes value-oriented options like the Standard RWD (starting at 41.99 million KRW (about 31,493 USD)) and Premium Long Range RWD (from 51.99 million KRW (about 38,993 USD)), enhancing its competitive edge.
To achieve the 41 million KRW (about 30,750 USD) price point, the new Standard RWD trim features some adjusted specifications. Compared to its predecessor, it omits the rear seat display, reduces speaker count from nine to seven, and excludes the ambient interior lighting.
The Premium Long Range RWD, another new addition, caters to customers prioritizing extended range and efficiency. It qualifies for maximum government incentives and boasts a range exceeding 500 km, significantly reducing range anxiety. This trim improves upon the previous all-wheel-drive model by removing one motor, reducing weight and cost while extending range.
The Model 3 Performance trim retains its supercar-level acceleration, hitting 0-60 mph in just 3.1 seconds, all for around 50 million KRW (about 37,500 USD).
After factoring in subsidies, the effective prices in Seoul are approximately 40.2 million KRW (about 30,150 USD) for the Standard RWD, 48.3 million KRW (about 36,225 USD) for the Premium Long Range RWD, and 57.8 million KRW (about 43,350 USD) for the Performance model. In regions offering higher incentives than Seoul, the Standard RWD could be available for as low as 30 million KRW (about 22,500 USD).
By Ham Bong-kyun, Automotive News Korea Correspondent (hbkone@etnews.com)
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