BEIJING / SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Tesla Inc said on Monday that it would start exporting China-made Model 3 cars to more than 10 European countries this month, using it as an export hub for China’s electric vehicles. Vehicle manufacturers are on the rise.
The American carmaker, which began delivery of manufactured vehicles at its Shanghai factory in December, will export China-made cars to countries including Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland this month, it said in a statement.
Elsewhere, German rival BMW is preparing to export its electric iX3 model, built at a joint venture plant in Shenyang, China, while Daimler is transferring production of its smart branded city cars to Hangzhou Bay.
Tesla is expanding into China even as tensions between Washington and Beijing increase. The Shanghai factory, Tesla’s first car plant outside the United States, aims to manufacture 150,000 vehicles this year.
Tesla said, “China’s government towards the industry, innovative local companies and customers adopting new technologies collaborate to make the best market for smart electric vehicles,” Tesla said that this would allow car production, charging and The sales network will expand.
The electric vehicle manufacturer, which sold more than 11,000 Model 3 cars in China last month, is also building new car manufacturing capacity in Shanghai to build its Model Y sport-utility vehicles, the world’s largest auto market.
Reuters reported in September that Tesla was planning to export Model 3 vehicles made in China to the Asian and European markets, citing people familiar with the matter.
Export of the Model 3 comes to Europe as Tesla is in the process of building a German factory on the outskirts of Berlin and the German government has announced a subsidy of up to 9,000 euros for buyers of electric cars, including the Model 3.
Reporting by Yeli Sun and Brenda Goh; Editing by Bernadette Bom and Mark Potter
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