Aiming to build confidence among Chinese consumers, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has pledged his company will begin local production in China within three years.
Xinhua reports that until then, imports from the United States will continue because the factory still has capacity left to grow into. Once that occurs, however, Musk says it would only be sensible to “localize production in China for the Chinese market, in Europe for the European market.”
Though Musk and Tesla haven’t had the best time in China since importation began in mid-2013 — ranging from sales issues and speculators, to range anxiety and consumer preferences — the CEO is optimistic about the future of his company’s work in the market, taking the long-term view as the basis for said optimism.
Musk tends to set ‘stretch goals’ for his company and himself.
So 3 years is 3 “Tesla Years” (TM) which may translate to more than 3 years for you and me.
The language is significant too. “Begin” in three years could mean 1 car made in the next 3 years.
Quite right.
Tesla Years are like miles to kilometers: 3 TY = 5 AY (actual years).
If America opened its borders to Cuba and even IRAN and sold those people “stuff”, it would create countless jobs for Americans.
I feel like I’m surrounded by the most anti-American, anti-free-market TRAITORS ever known and that every single thing they are doing makes this country less competitive and weakens us from within.
TESLA should be able to build their cars HERE and sell them OVER THERE.
How were those coconuts in the Seychelles, anyway? Did you get a good chance to tell those foreigners what utter dopes they are?
Tesla is perfectly free to sell US made cars in PRC. It just cannot sell many of them and it wants to sell more.
Who cares?
I leave for Dubai/Seychelles on Friday.
Haven’t left yet.
Right. I’m wondering if television, computer, furniture, cookware, cell phone, car charger, clothing, shoe, and other manufacturers who make goods in that low wage cesspool will consider building up my confidence by making the stuff here?
Second day of the week…
So yet another Tesla story.
A car that sell 2 K a month gets yet MORE face time.
Keep promoting since you must have Tesla stock you need to help.
Out of some 278 car models sold in the US in 2014, the Model S outsold 141 of them – including the Chevy Volt, Acura ILX, every Porsche model, and the entire Jaguar line.
Those other cars receive plenty of press, too.
that is the price of admission to sell in China
The biggest reason I think is the tax incentive in electric car there. Cars there sold for almost 100% sales tax and a lot less for EV. This make Tesla actually 2/3 the price of an equivalent Mercedes. Then you add the limit to enter cities on odd/even license plate number day to curb pollution, who wouldn’t buy a Model S over an E class?