UPDATE: This is unconfirmed, but some are saying that not only does this mean the cars will receive subsidies, but that they are approved for sale as well:
This official EV incentive recommendation from government does not only mean the subsidies but it is also a permit to sell and deliver China-made Model 3 to customer.
— Tesla China (@teslacn) December 6, 2019
Hot of the presses:
China’s industry ministry has placed Chinese-built Tesla Inc. (TSLA.O) Model 3 cars on a list of vehicles recommended to receive subsidies for new energy vehicles, a move that will help the U.S. firm’s push into the world’s biggest auto market.
Reuters
Yes, you read that right: the Chinese government will help pay part of the price of every Made in China Model 3 coming out of Tesla’s new Shanghai Gigafactory.
Two variants of Tesla Model 3 vehicles are listed on a recommendation list for China’s generous subsidies for new energy vehicles (NEV), according to a post on the website of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Reuters
Two variants? I was under the impression that Gigafactory Shanghai would only be making Standard Range Plus cars. Could it be that some imported cars are also subsidized? That seems unlikely.
Or it could be the rumored long wheelbase Model 3 for the Chinese market?
The California-based electric vehicle maker, which is building cars in a $2 billion factory in Shanghai, aims to make more than 1,000 vehicles a week by the end of 2019 and deliver the China-made vehicles before the Chinese new year on Jan. 25.
Reuters
If delieries begin in January, that would mean that the time from factory ground breaking to first vehicle delivery was under a year. That is insane.
The annual capacity at the plant 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.
Reuters
Presumably the other 100,000 would be Model Y.
China hopes sales of NEVs, which include plug-in hybrids, battery-only electric vehicles and those powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which constituted around 4.6% of overall market in 2018, can reach a quarter of car sales in 2025.
Reuters
Bold goals for the world’s largest vehicle market. Will they lead the way unopposed, or will America come back to compete in the global electrification race?
🚨🚨🚨 Model 3 Recomended for Chinese Subsidies 🚨🚨🚨
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Read the full story at Reuters