China-built Tesla cars secure new energy vehicle subsidies

A China-made Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle is seen ahead of the Guangzhou auto show in Guangzhou

BEIJING (Reuters) - Tesla Inc said yesterday its Chinese-built Model 3 cars would receive state subsidies, a move that will help the U.S. electric vehicle maker’s push into the world’s biggest auto market. 

China’s industry ministry had earlier said Tesla’s Model 3 cars, being built at its US$ 2 billion factory in Shanghai, were on a list recommended for subsidies for new energy vehicles (NEVs), which include plug-in hybrids, battery-only electric vehicles and those powered by hydrogen fuel cells. 

Tesla said in a statement the subsidies had been secured.

Two variants of Tesla Model 3 vehicles are on the list for the generous NEV subsidy program, according to the website of China’s Ministry of Industry and 
Information Technology. 

The California-based electric vehicle maker aims to make more than 1,000 vehicles a week by the end of 2019 for it Shanghai plant and deliver the China-made vehicles before the Chinese New Year on Jan. 25. 

The annual capacity at the factory in its first phase is expected to reach 250,000 vehicles, equivalent to about 4,800 a week. This will include 150,000 Model 3 cars.

It was not immediately clear how much of a subsidy the vehicles would receive. The starting price for China-made Model 3 cars is 355,800 yuan (US$ 50,550), according 
to Tesla’s website. 

China hopes sales of NEVs which constituted around 4.6 percebt of overall market in 2018, can reach a quarter of car sales in 2025. 

Tesla, led by billionaire Elon Musk, is planning a broad after-sales network in China.