Tesla planning to start delivering made-in-China Model 3 before late January

Tesla Inc. said it’s planning to start delivering made-in-China Model 3 cars before late January, another sign that the company is nearing mass production in the world’s largest auto market.

“We are making an effort to gradually deliver before the Spring Festival to let our customers drive our China-built Model 3 sedans back home for the holidays,” Tesla said in response to a Bloomberg query. The Spring Festival, a weeklong holiday marking the lunar new year, begins January 25.

Spring Festival is the Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year, the largest festival in China with a 7-day holiday. As the most colorful annual event, CNY's traditional celebration lasts longer, up to two weeks, and culminates on New Year's Eve on the lunar calendar.

During this period, China was dominated by iconic red lanterns, loud fireworks, mass banquets and parades, and the festival even causes stormy holidays around the world.

Source: Leilani Darling

The deliveries would come from the first batch of cars that Tesla produces in bulk later this year — not the test vehicles that the company has been manufacturing in small quantities recently. Tesla said in October that it expected to begin deliveries to customers in the first quarter but didn’t specify which month.

Today, made-in-China, the Tesla Model 3 takes part in the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, which began in China on November 22 and became its first show in the world! Also, made in China Model 3 will start to display in all Tesla China showrooms in many different cities from November 22.

Made in China Tesla Model 3 in the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition$TSLA #Tesla #China #MIC #Model3 pic.twitter.com/wMjGMtMXyZ

— Vincent (@vincent13031925) November 21, 2019

“I think Tesla coming to China will be a positive catalyst for the EV market. I always believe that having a good product that really gets the consumer interested and expands the overall market is good for the industry,” said Xpeng Motors President Brian Gu to CNBC.

Shanghai Gigafactory was built ahead of schedule, in a record 10 months. In mid-November, Tesla received a license for serial production of vehicles, which caused the activation of orders in the domestic market of China. On November 11, the first batch of the Chinese Tesla Model 3, which was mass-produced, was launched at Shanghai Gigafactory. According to information from one of the Tesla salesman in China, orders for the purchase of Tesla Model 3 came to his email every minute.

Email Notification from one of the Tesla salesman in China. New orders keep coming in every minute. Yeah, every single F’n minute.

And YES again, just one of the salesman’s email notification. $TSLA #Tesla #China #DemandCliffMyAss pic.twitter.com/URnUGWz5DL

— Vincent (@vincent13031925) November 9, 2019

As always, Tesla pleases its customers with a high-quality product and good news. The Chinese market is the largest market in the world and the Tesla Model 3 is undoubtedly a welcome vehicle for Chinese buyers. The Chinese government is committed to supporting and developing electric vehicles, which is a positive trend. And Tesla, which creates and develops premium electric vehicles at affordable prices, is like no other suitable for translating the intentions of the Chinese government.