Our vision in tune with policy, says Tesla chief
China will play an indispensable role in Tesla accelerating the world's transition to sustainable energy, Grace Tao, vice-president of Tesla, said in an interview on Wednesday. The vision, Tao said, goes beyond a mere slogan it resonates within the minds of every Tesla employee. The company is devoted to making this vision a reality by measures including manufacturing zero-emission electric vehicles and working toward replacing conventional power grids with sustainable energy sources. Tesla's commitment to sustainability closely aligns with China's dual carbon goals, forming an ideal partnership, Tao said. With a shared commitment to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions, Tesla has reaffirmed its resolute investment in the Chinese market, she added. Having entered the Chinese market a decade ago, the United States-based company has made significant strides in expanding its footprint in China. The crowning achievement among these endeavors is the establishment of the Shanghai Gigafactory, serving as Tesla's inaugural manufacturing facility outside the US. The Shanghai Gigafactory demonstrates high energy efficiency and production effectiveness, Tao said, with a Tesla vehicle rolling off the production line in less than 40 seconds. In 2022, the Shanghai plant delivered more than 710,000 vehicles, accounting for more than half of Tesla's global deliveries. The factory also serves as an export hub, using China's supply chain and manufacturing capabilities to produce high-quality intelligent EVs, such as the Model 3 and Model Y. These vehicles are sold in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere. In April, Tesla announced another big investment in Shanghai the construction of a new megafactory dedicated to manufacturing the company's energy-storage product, Megapack. The factory will initially produce 10,000 Megapack units every year, equal to approximately 40 gigawatt-hours of energy storage. Its products are expected to be sold worldwide. Furthermore, Tesla opened its first overseas research and development center in Shanghai in 2021, dedicated to vehicle development. The Shanghai Gigafactory Data Center was established that same year to securely store data generated by Tesla's operations in China and customer information. Tesla has also demonstrated its involvement in major exhibitions in China, including the China International Fair for Trade in Services. Since 2016, Tesla has been a participant in this event, showcasing its cutting-edge products and technologies. At this year's fair, to be held on Sept 2-6, Tesla plans to showcase advancements including EV models, energy storage facilities and others, Tao said.