Masked Tesla Model 3 Highland test mule spotted cruising in the Chinese countryside

A Tesla Model 3 Highland test mule was seen on the country roads of Xinjiang recently, with a video clip of the car in question being shared online by Drive Tesla Canada. For those who are curious, the Chinese text associated with the short video (see embedded tweet below) can be prosaically machine translated as something akin to “Model 3 road test vehicle spotted in Xinjiang”. The prototype car has its front and rear ends carefully masked to prevent full disclosure of its all-important design.

It’s unclear where the Tesla Model 3 Highland car originated from, as it is believed they are being produced at Giga Shanghai. Depending on your destination in Xinjiang province, the distance covered is likely to be anywhere from around 2,000 miles to 2,500 miles from Shanghai, which is quite the road test trip. But the Tesla Model 3 Highland was probably taken to the region by a car carrier trailer before being tested on the highways Xinjiang has to offer, including through deserts, mountains, and grasslands.

The Tesla Model 3 Highland has a lot riding on it, as the series as a whole has ended up being a success story for the company after some serious bumps in the road. It was the first electric car to surpass one million sales around the world, and it is seen as a reasonably affordable entry into Tesla’s lineup, with a new Model 3 marked at US$25,490 after potential savings (purchase price: US$40,240). With spots like this latest one occurring more frequently, it shouldn’t be too long before the Tesla Model 3 Highland hits the streets en masse.

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