Tesla stock (pixabay photo)
Tesla has considered plans to export electric vehicles made in China to the United States and Canada, Reuters reported today (Saturday) by two people with knowledge of the plan, a move that would connect its largest factory to North America, the auto giant’s biggest market.
Tesla was looking into whether Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles made at the Shanghai Gigafactory could be sold in North America as early as next year, according to the people, who declined to be identified because the process was confidential. Tesla’s assessment included consideration of whether parts made by Tesla’s China suppliers would comply with regulations in the United States and Canada, they said.
More in-
The Shanghai plant was working toward an initial plan to start a small-scale pilot production of vehicles in the first quarter of 2023 that would meet North American standards for potential exports, one of the people said. The review of potential North American exports from Shanghai has developed over the past two weeks, according to the people who spoke to Reuters, and a memo detailing some of the steps the Shanghai plant has taken to test its readiness by early 2023 was seen by Reuters.
Tesla won’t be the first American automaker to ship Chinese-made vehicles to the U.S. General Motors imported the Buick Envision SUV and unsuccessfully petitioned for an exemption from a 25 percent U.S. tariff imposed by the Trump administration. Until now, Tesla’s strategy has been to build the cars it sells in North America at its factories in Fremont, California, and Austin, Texas.
Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory has the capacity to produce 1.1 million electric vehicles a year after an upgrade earlier this year, making it Tesla’s most productive manufacturing center. The Shanghai plant produces sedans and Model Y crossovers for sale in China and for export to markets including Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.
Until recently, Tesla sold or sent for export every vehicle it could make in Shanghai, but inventory levels rose by the largest rate ever in October. Now it is possible that she will make a revolution on the road with her vehicles.
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