Tesla upgrades China Model 3 with 16-inch screen and V2L, US left out

Tesla just gave Model 3 cars sold in China a bigger 16-inch touchscreen (up from 15.4 inches), a new light gray interior option, and the ability to export up to 2.2 kW of AC power from the car, enough to run small appliances like a hot plate or kettle. That power-export feature, called vehicle-to-load (V2L), works across the whole Model 3 and Model Y lineup in China, though owners need to buy Tesla's adapter to use it. China buyers also got fresh discounts this week, including money off, cut-rate financing, and insurance and paint credits.

None of this is coming to the US version of the Model 3. American Model 3s still have the smaller 15.4-inch screen, and the car is left out of Tesla's US vehicle-to-load rollout entirely. When Tesla brought that feature to the US in August, it limited it to the Model Y Premium, Model Y Performance, and Cybertruck, using an $80 adapter rated at 2.4 kW. The whole Model 3 line was skipped.

For homeowners thinking about an EV as backup power during an outage or for running equipment at a job site or campsite, this matters mainly as a reminder of what current US Tesla models can and can't do. If you already own or are shopping for a US Model 3, it does not have V2L capability, and Tesla has not said when or if that will change. The China updates reflect intense competition there, not a preview of a US upgrade.