Tesla builds mega-factory in Shanghai, ignoring trade tensions



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The American manufacturer of high-end electric vehicles Tesla will build a mega-factory in Shanghai, which will significantly increase its production capacity and is the largest establishment of the group outside the United States, in full trade war between Two countries.

On the spot Tuesday, the boss of the Californian group, Elon Musk, specified that the factory, whose plans had been studied for a year, would have an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles and that he hoped that it would be completed "very soon".

Tesla seeks to develop in the world markets and recently saw its projects endangered by the intensification of the trade conflict between the United States and China and the pressures of President Donald Trump for the maintenance of jobs in the United States.

But CFRA badyst Efraim Levy said that the announcement of the construction of this plant, at a time when trade relations between Washington and Beijing are at their lowest, is a "coincidence."

"L The plant is a long-term project and the commercial situation is rather medium-term and should be resolved by the end of 2019. "

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the Shanghai authorities stated that the preliminary agreement concluded provided for the construction of the plant in the industrial and commercial area of ​​Lingang, southeast of Shanghai.

They badure that they will give their full support to the Tesla project, which will involve the production, research and development and commercialization of electric vehicles. Tesla will have "the exclusive property," says the statement.

– World Premier Market –

From the United States, a spokesman for Tesla said that this new location in China "would not have effect on [leurs] production operations in the United States, which would continue to grow "and that the models manufactured in China would be destined for the Chinese market.

The construction of the mega-factory will start as soon as the permits are obtained. necessary, he added. Production should not begin for two years.

"Telsa will need a lot of money to build this plant but did not say how much it will cost," said Paul Ausick of 24/7 Wall Street, recalling that the manufacturer had $ 2.7 billion in available cash at the end of the first quarter "but that does not seem enough."

In recent years, China has emerged as the world's largest market for electric vehicles.

Tesla had set important milestones in recent months. In May, the Hong Kong subsidiary of the Californian group had thus registered a new company, "Tesla (Shanghai) Limited", in the national register of companies, of which it was the sole shareholder.

In early June, things had accelerated with the announcement of ongoing discussions with the Chinese authorities for the construction of a mega-factory to manufacture vehicles and batteries in the city of Shanghai.

that Tesla can produce affordable vehicles, "it will be very important to base production at least at the continental level," Musk said at the time.

At present, the group has a mega-factory in Nevada (Southwest) in the United States, which manufactures batteries for the brand's vehicles built in California, near San Francisco, West.

Tesla would eventually open ten to twelve of these mega-batteries. factories-producing cars and batteries-in the world, including one in Europe, Musk added.

– Becoming Profitable –

Tesla has been at a turning point in its young history and under pressure from the financial markets for several months because its Model 3, supposed to bring the manufacturer into mbad production, has experienced significant delays

The group announced in June the suppression of 9% of its workforce after having already begun a vast internal reorganization, including the elimination of hierarchical levels.

Tesla, who tries by all means to become profitable this year despite losses accumulated so far, had specified that the job cuts would have no impact on the production of Model 3.

Tesla also benefits from the lifting of certain restrictions on Chinese foreign manufacturers. China has promised to lift restrictions in the next five years on foreign manufacturers from controlling their joint ventures in China.

Until now, any multinational wishing to produce automobiles in China had to set up a joint venture with a local partner she can not own more than 50%. This ceiling will be abolished by 2022 for the production of individual cars.

In April, Pekin said it would be lifted this year for the production of electric or hybrid vehicles. Tesla is therefore the first to take advantage of it.

Chinese and foreign manufacturers have entered the race to seize a market promised ever faster growth while local authorities encourage the development of clean technologies. 19659026] [ad_2]
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