Tom Zhu, president of Tesla China, recently spoke to Chinese media channel Xinhua Net about a variety of topics related to Tesla. While the focus was on general plans related to the future operations of Tesla China, the $ 25,000 compact car came up. Zhu has confirmed that the smaller, cheaper Tesla in China will be designed at a research center at Tesla’s Gigafcatory in Shanghai.
Zhu said the Tesla compact car will be built in China and sold around the world. As for the timeline, Zhu also confirmed that Tesla is already working on the construction of the dedicated research and development (R&D) center that will design the upcoming compact car. It will be the first Tesla R & D center in the country, as well as the first outside the United States.
Tesla built the Shanghai Gigafactory in record time. Not long after producing Model 3 sedans in the Phase 1 section of the plant, it quickly built Phase 2, already building the Model Y electric crossover. There is no reason to believe that the R&D center will not follow suit and will be up and running in the near future.
Zhu said in the interview (above) via Teslarati:
‘The center is in Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai, where we are now. We are now building our China R&D center here. This R&D center is also the first Tesla R&D center outside the United States. The research and development center has all the necessary disciplines, covering vehicle design, vehicle engineering, vehicle development and vehicle testing. ‘
Zhu explained that Tesla China has a goal of ‘designing, developing and manufacturing’ its own original Tesla car to sell in markets around the world. The target price is $ 25,000, but it is important to note that Tesla’s vehicle prices worldwide are inconsistent, and that currency conversions may cloud reality. It is nonetheless the cheapest Tesla available in all markets where it is sold. Zhu shared:
‘In the future, we want to design, develop and manufacture an original model in China that is manufactured here and sold to the whole world. This R&D center is the starting point of the goal. “
Other reports suggest that the compact Tesla car will be a hatchback built on the Model 3 platform. Road tests are expected to begin later this year.