For the first time, Tesla vehicles have been included in a Chinese government procurement list. Specifically, Tesla’s Model Y, manufactured in Shanghai, has been added to the list of vehicles that can be purchased by the Jiangsu provincial government for use as service cars. This development comes after Tesla received an endorsement from China’s top auto industry association, affirming that its data collection practices in China are compliant (Yahoo Finance) (Autocar Pro).
This inclusion follows a series of meetings between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang, aimed at strengthening Tesla’s relationship with China. The move is seen as part of China’s broader strategy to support Tesla, which plans to establish a data training center and introduce its Full Self Driving software in the country this year (China Daily).
Despite this positive development, Tesla’s deliveries of China-made vehicles have seen a 9% decline in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, amidst growing domestic competition and international trade tensions (Autocar Pro) (The Financial Express).
