[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Amid escalating US-China tensions following the passage of the Hong Kong National Security Law (Security Law), Tesla, a leading American electric vehicle company, is actively pursuing the Chinese market.
On the 29th, China's Global Times reported that Tesla plans to add 4,000 dedicated fast-charging stations called 'Superchargers' in China this year. The 4,000 Superchargers Tesla plans to build this year is twice the number of charging stations it has established in China over the past five years.
One reason consumers in China hesitate to purchase new energy vehicles is the lack of charging stations, so Tesla appears to be accelerating infrastructure development first.
Currently, Tesla is the only electric vehicle manufacturer in China to have established a nationwide electric vehicle charging network. There are more than 2,500 Superchargers installed across over 150 cities in China.
In a situation where the automotive industry has been heavily affected by COVID-19 and US-China conflicts have deepened, Tesla's aggressive expansion in the Chinese market demonstrates high expectations for the Chinese market, the newspaper reported. Tesla is not only expanding charging stations but is also pushing plans to expand its Shanghai manufacturing plant, 'Gigafactory 3,' indicating continued optimism about the Chinese market.
Sales of new energy vehicles in China have recently slowed. According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, 72,000 new energy vehicles, including electric cars, were sold in China in April. This is a 9.7% increase compared to March but a 26.5% decrease on an annual basis.
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