Tesla chief executive Elon Musk attends groundbreaking on Shanghai Gigafactory

SHANGHAI / BE I J ING : Tesla Inc chief executive Elon Musk yesterday officiated a groundbreaking ceremony for its Shanghai Gigafactory where it will begin making Model 3 electric vehicles ( EV) by year- end.

The US$ 2 billion factory – long under discussion – marks a major bet by the US electric vehicle maker as it looks to bolster its presence in the world’s biggest auto market, where it faces rising competition from a swathe of domestic rivals and its sales have been hit by increased tariffs on US imports.

“Looking forward to breaking ground on the @ Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory today!” Musk wrote in a post on Twitter.

Musk has said previously he would attend the event in Shanghai. Tesla officials in China declined to comment.

The carmaker, which currently imports US-made vehicles to sell in China, is building the plant in an auto market that is set to contract this year for the first time in decades, though so- called newenergy vehicle ( NEV) sales have been strong.

China raised the import tariff on US-made cars to 40 per cent in July, but cut it back to 15 per cent from the start of this year as part of a ceasefire in a trade war with the United States.

The lower tariff will last until the end of March pending trade talks. A local plant will help Tesla lower prices in the market to compete with a new generation of local rivals including Nio Inc , Byton and XPeng Motors.

“Affordable cars must be made on same continent as customers,” Musk said in another tweet.

“Shanghai Giga will produce affordable versions of 3/ Y for greater China. All Model S/ X & higher cost versions of Model 3/Y will still be built in US for WW market, incl China,” he later added, referring to the worldwide market including China.

Alan Kang, Shanghai- based analyst for consultancy LMC Automotive, said: “Tesla’s sales (in China) have dropped over the past few months because of high price caused by the tariffs. And the competition is getting more and more fierce.”

“With the construction of the Shanghai factory, the faster the better (for Tesla),” Kang said.

Tesla has been pushing forward its plans for the plant after it secured the site in October, hiring staff, starting procurement for building materials and setting up a financial leasing company in the city.

The so- called Gigafactory would also be China’s first wholly foreign- owned car plant, a reflection of China’s broader shift to open up its car market even amid the whipsawing trade war. — Reuters