Tesla to ‘localize production’ of electric vehicles in China
Print Edition
TESLA Motors founder Elon Musk said yesterday his company plans to “localize production” of electric cars in China over the next three years, state media reported.
“We have a strong long-term commitment to China and we tend to establish both local production and local engineering in China,” he said in an interview with the official Xinhua news agency.
Localizing production in China, as well as Europe, is “just the sensible, logical thing,” he said in the interview.
Foreign automakers must set up joint ventures with Chinese partners to produce and sell cars in the domestic market.
US-based Tesla began delivering imported cars to Chinese buyers last year, but Musk admitted sales had fallen short of expectations and blamed “speculators,” Xinhua said.
“China is the only place on Earth that we have excess inventory,” he said.
Tesla confirmed this month that it is cutting jobs in China, after a domestic newspaper reported the company will reduce staff by 30 percent after sales failed to meet expectations, Bloomberg News reported.
Sales of the Model S in China were hit by rumors last year — which Tesla said are untrue — that owners would not be able to recharge them at home.
Tesla also faced an early stumble in the world’s biggest auto market after it was forced to resolve a dispute with a Chinese businessman over the use of its trademarks in the country.
Analysts say Tesla might only find a niche market in China, given premium prices and consumer reluctance to drive electric cars.
Sales in China hit over 23 million vehicles last year.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
