Tesla To Start Chinese Model 3 Production On October 14?

Production of the Tesla Model 3 at the company’s new Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai, China is expected to commence on October 14.

Local officials revealed earlier this week that the first body-in-white Model 3 recently rolled off the production line just 10 months after construction of the site commenced. Tesla itself has yet to publicize a start date for production, with the touted October 14 date based on communication with local suppliers from Shine.

Elon Musk has previously confirmed that he wants to see Gigafactory 3 churning out at least 3,000 vehicles per week by the end of the year. If achieved, this will help the company dramatically up its production figures as the Model 3, Model S and Model X are currently only being manufactured at the company’s Fremont, California production site.

Also Read: Tesla Gets 10 Per Cent Purchase Tax Exemption From China

Tesla’s Chinese factory won’t just build the Model 3. Musk has previously confirmed that it will also handle some production of the upcoming Model Y, the company’s entry-level electric SUV.

Word about local production of the Model 3 starting in just a couple weeks isn’t the only good news the automaker has out of China. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said Tesla’s electric vehicles will be exempt from its 10 per cent purchase tax, allowing the company to lower local prices by as much as 99,000 yuan ($13,957).

Musk recently described China’s national leaders as “very thoughtful” and said the country is making “amazing” progress with sustainable energy.