Tesla Could Build A Model 3 Plaid, But It Has Bigger Things To Worry About
Fans of the Tesla Model 3 were offered more excitement when the Model 3 Performance launched, but they've never been given a full-on Plaid variant like the Model S. That may soon change if Tesla Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy, gets his way. Speaking on the Ride the Lightning podcast recently, he said that a tri-motor Model 3, or Model 3 Plaid, effectively, is something that he's constantly turning over in his head. "I think about it all the time," he said when asked if a third motor could be fitted to the Model 3. With the Model S and Model X now discontinued, it would be a great way of highlighting Tesla's performance credentials, and at a lower price than before, too.
Tesla Says a Model 3 Plaid Would Be a Challenge
While Moravy neither confirmed nor denied that the Model 3 would get the Plaid treatment at some point, he indicated that Tesla has other priorities right now and that a high-performance Model 3 might be more effort than it's worth. He said a Model 3 Plaid is being looked at from a "work for reward" perspective, which seems to suggest that the time and resources expended on such a product may not have a strong business case at the moment. Moravy did mention the carbon-sleeved motor technology that made the Model S Plaid so reliably quick, so Tesla is clearly thinking about a hi-po Model 3, it's just not a priority. Instead, Tesla is focused on expanding its Robotaxi operations, producing more Optimus robots, and working on the Tesla Roadster. Apparently, that's still happening. Moravy said that Tesla's latest and greatest motor tech will go to the Roadster, so he and the rest of his engineering team haven't necessarily put the project on the back burner.
What Does This Mean for a Model 3 Plaid?
Moravy didn't deny that a Model 3 Plaid would eventually happen, and his reference to carbon-sleeved motors as part of a tri-motor package for Tesla's most affordable model suggests that the automaker has thought about how to make the EV more exciting. But he didn't confirm it either, and with Tesla viewing itself as more of a technology company than a car manufacturer these days, launching new models and improving existing ones are not issues Tesla is most worried about at the moment. CEO Elon Musk has said the Tesla Roadster will be one of the last human-driven cars in history, and when quizzed about new product, he's regularly diverted attention to solving autonomous driving, providing a network of robotaxis to service bustling metros, and offering robots to serve as assistants in every facet of life. Basically, Tesla has the tools to make a riveting Model 3 Plaid, but other projects are more important to the leadership of the company.
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 4:45 PM.