New Tesla Model 3 with different plug spotted ahead of European launch

A Tesla Model 3 with a different plug, likely a Type 2 Mennekes, has been spotted at Tesla’s automation group in Germany ahead of the official European launch.

In Europe, Tesla uses a different plug than it does in North America.

For Model S and Model X built in California for the European market, Tesla installs a Type 2 Mennekes connector, which is also the standard connector for the handles of European Superchargers and Destination chargers.

There’s been some speculation about Tesla moving to a CCS plug for the Model 3 since it’s becoming the preferred standard for fast-charging in Europe.

Tesla brought a Model 3 to Paris for a European motor show debut last month, but it was an America version of the vehicle with Tesla’s proprietary North American plug.

Now, a Model 3 was spotted at Tesla Grohmann, the automaker’s automation division in Germany, with a different plug (pictures via Detlef Knobloch):

Electrek’s Take

While we can’t confirm for a fact that the plug is a Type 2 from the picture, it is clearly not Tesla’s standard American plug and therefore, it’s a different connector never before seen on a Model 3 before..

The form of the handle and the position of the connector is clearly different and it resembles a Type 2 handle.

We were able to confirm that the pictures were taken at Tesla Grohmann near Prum in Germany.

The fact that it appears to be using a regular Tesla Wall Connector for employees at the Grohmann offices is also a good indicator that it’s indeed a Type 2 charger.

We are most likely looking at a European Model 3 engineering car.

It looks like this kills the little hope that some had of the European Model 3 having a CCS plug, but there’s still hope for some adapters.

At least, it shows that Tesla is getting ready to launch the vehicle in Europe.

During the latest earnings call, Musk commented about the timeline of the release of the Model 3 on the old continent.

He said that Tesla plans to open the order book to reservation holders by the end of the year. Musk added that they plan to build a significant batch of Model 3 vehicles for Europe in January and he expects deliveries in February and March:

“We expect to start producing a significant volume for Europe in January, and obviously take some time to ship. So deliveries, probably if we finish the deliveries in Europe kind of in the late February, March timeframe.”

Musk added that right-hand drive markets, like the UK and Australia, can expect the car in “Mid 2019.” Asia-Pacific (APAC) can expect the car closer to the main European timeline.