In a significant development, Chinese government workers now have the opportunity to acquire Tesla’s Model Y for official purposes.
Officials in eastern China’s Jiangsu province have recently added the Model Y to their government procurement list. This news was also reported in the state-owned publication, The Paper.
Being the sole foreign-owned electric vehicle company on the list, Tesla’s inclusion is a clear indication that the company’s endeavors to gain the trust and support of the Chinese government are yielding positive results. Tesla runs a Gigafactory in Shanghai and ensures that the self-driving data of its Chinese customers is stored and processed exclusively within China.
Amidst the ongoing tensions between China and the U.S., it is noteworthy that Tesla CEO Elon Musk has shown exceptional dedication to the Chinese market, recognizing its status as the largest EV market globally. Earlier this year, the company successfully overcame another challenge by securing an agreement with Chinese regulators to introduce its latest self-driving capabilities in the country. In addition, it has formed a partnership with Baidu in order to gain access to the high-resolution maps provided by the Chinese company.
Tesla’s recent positive developments coincide with the company’s ongoing battle against fierce competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers like BYD, with price being a major point of contention. According to China’s Passenger Car Association, shipments from its Shanghai factory in June experienced a significant decline of 24.2% compared to the previous year.