The Tesla Model 3 was the first Tesla model to use a permanent-magnet electric motor.
Unlike the induction motors used in earlier Tesla production cars, the Model 3’s main rear motor uses an interior permanent-magnet synchronous reluctance design. Permanent magnets embedded inside the rotor provide magnetic field excitation, while the rotor’s shape also uses reluctance effects to improve efficiency and performance.
This motor architecture helped Tesla deliver strong efficiency in a more affordable vehicle. The Model 3 was introduced in 2017 as a smaller, less expensive sedan positioned below the Model S. Rear-wheel-drive versions use the permanent-magnet motor as their primary propulsion unit, while dual-motor all-wheel-drive versions combine it with an induction motor on the front axle.
The answer is sometimes misunderstood because later Tesla models also use permanent-magnet motors. The Model Y, for example, shares much of the Model 3’s engineering and may use permanent-magnet units depending on configuration and production location. The historical distinction is that the Model 3 introduced this motor type to Tesla’s production lineup.