Tesla announced this week it had begun production of the Model Y battery electric SUV at its Shanghai plant in China and local deliveries would begin shortly, according to local reports.

The company had begun taking orders for the locally made long range Model Y, priced from CNY339,900 (US$52,000), and the performance range version which costs from CNY369,900.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The EV maker began production of the Model 3 at its Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai’s Lingang Special Area just over one year ago, replacing imports and allowing the company to cut costs and reduce local prices. 

The company delivered over 114,000 EVs in China in the first 11 months of last year, mostly locally produced Model 3s, and began exporting the car last August. 

Tesla said global vehicle production was 509,737 units in 2020, with deliveries of 499,550.

Deliveries in the fourth quarter were up 30% to 180,570.

Just Auto Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Auto Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Continental has secured the Window Displays Innovation Award in the 2025 Just Auto Excellence Awards for its Window Projection solution, transforming side windows into dynamic, data-rich canvases. Discover how this compact projection technology and intelligent software are reshaping in-car UX and opening fresh revenue streams for OEMs and mobility providers.

Discover the Impact