Tesla may be on cusp of unveiling new budget-priced EV

Tesla may be on cusp of unveiling new budget-priced EV

Tesla Delivery Center Elon Musk

Tesla China VP Grace Tao says a new Tesla electric car completely designed and made in Shanghai will be seen on roads very soon. Could it also be revealed at an upcoming China auto show?

The new comments come ahead of the annual Guangzhou Auto Show, where it is thought Tesla’s much-anticipated $US25,000 electric hatchback (unofficially dubbed “Model 2”) will be unveiled.



In an interview with Chinese media, the Tesla executive – who is unusual in that she makes public comments on the direction of the typically close-lipped company (apart from CEO Elon Musk) – commented on the EV maker’s plans to source all the parts needed to make electric vehicles in China.

She added that a Shanghai-designed vehicle would soon be made using 100% local parts, a goal that Tesla has been working on since it opened its Gigafactory in Shanghai, with the goal of lowering the cost of manufacturing.

“I hope that in the near future, not only can the (Tesla) models made in China reach nearly 100% localized productivity, it may also be able to witness the (Tesla) models independently designed and manufactured by the Chinese team driving in China. On the highway,” she said according to The Paper (translated from Chinese).

Tao’s comments come as Tesla displayed an exhibit at the 2021 China International Import Expo in Shanghai, highlighting the company’s increasing importance to the Chinese economy.

And China is important to Tesla, also. With more than 1,000 Superchargers and 60 delivery centres across 58 cities, Tesla sells as many as one in three of its electric vehicles in China.

The plan to design and develop an electric vehicle in China was confirmed when the EV maker advertised for a design lead for its Tesla China Design Studio in April.



This followed comments from Tesla China boss Tom Zhu in February that Tesla would start selling an electric hatchback by the end of 2021.

Sources have also been reported as saying that this electric hatchback – first touted by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in late 2020 at the company’s Battery Day – could be displayed at the Guangzhou Auto Show.

Expectations this would come to fruition were dampened though when Musk said at a recent shareholder meeting that the introduction of new models would be dependent on cell and other supply chain availability.

If and when it does, it is possible it would be eventually made available in Australia also, as the Model 3 is now sourced from Shanghai for local customers.

It will be worth keeping an eye out then, as the auto show kicks off next Friday.

News source

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