Monday 30 December 2019

Tesla’s first Chinese cars roll off assembly line

Tesla has delivered its first batch of China-made cars less than a year after the electric vehicle company started building its first factory outside the United States.

15 of Tesla’s Model 3 EVs left the Shanghai factory today and were given to employees who had placed advance orders during a ceremony at the plant.

The company is reported to be producing more than 1,000 cars per week in China and hopes to double that figure next year.

Tesla Chief executive Elon Musk has said production could rise to 3,000 vehicles per week in the future.

Unusually, Tesla's China venture is wholly owned by the US company, and Tesla's decision to invest in Shanghai has been rewarded with preferential treatment.

Authorities last week announced the waiver of a 10% purchase tax for locally made Model 3 vehicle, priced at 355,800 yuan ($50,900).

Earlier in December the government also approved a subsidy of up to 25,000 yuan per car.