Tesla delivers first China-made Model 3 sedans
SHANGHAI: Tesla has started delivering Model 3 electric cars built at its Shanghai factory in just under a year since it began work on the US$2 billion (RM8.25 billion) plant, a record for global automakers in China, and said it would ramp up deliveries from next month.
The US electric vehicle maker marked the start with an event yesterday where 15 Tesla employees received cars they had purchased, one of whom took the opportunity to propose to his girlfriend.
The China-made Model 3 sedans are priced at 355,800 yuan (US$50,000) before subsidies. Imported Model 3 vehicles start at 439,000 yuan for the longer-range version, while the standard range plus model costs under US$40,000 in the United States.
The Shanghai plant, up and running in just 357 days, is part of Tesla’s plans to bolster its presence in the world’s biggest car market and minimise the impact of the US-China trade war.
The automaker, which previously imported all the cars it sold in China, had said it wanted to start deliveries from the
Shanghai plant before the Lunar New Year beginning on Jan 25.
“From now China-made Model 3 vehicles will start running on China’s large streets and small lanes,“Tesla vice-president Tao Lin said at the delivery ceremony. China general manager for the Silicon Valley carmaker Wang Hao said Tesla plans to ramp up Model 3 deliveries in January.
The Chinese government has been supportive of the first wholly foreign-owned car plant and a reflection of Beijing’s shift to open up its auto market. – Reuters