SHANGHAI – Tesla on Wednesday, had the first export from China since the reopening of the Shanghai factory on April 19, with shipments of 4,767 cars delivered to Slovenia, the government-backed Shanghai Observer media outlet reported.
Glovis Splendor news agency left the port early on Wednesday, arriving at the Slovenian port of Koper, according to the Shanghai-based news agency.
“Tesla was in a hurry to load the new cars off the production line on the ship yesterday afternoon,” a customs official was quoted as saying by the Shanghai Observer.
Tesla also arranged for 4,100 cars to be shipped on Friday, adding that the automaker aims to export 300,000 cars from Shanghai by 2022.
Tesla did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
The shipment reflects Tesla’s efforts to bring operations back to normal at its Shanghai factory, which has caused Model 3 and Model Y for sale in China and export.
The China Tourist Vehicle Association said on Tuesday Tesla did not export any China-made Model 3 or Model Y from its Shanghai factory in April, due to its zero-COVID- policy. 19 of China disrupted production and delivery.
The data also showed that the company’s sales in China fell 98% in April from a month earlier.
The factory’s April 19 reopening was made possible with the help of Shanghai authorities and was widely reported by Chinese state media. It is seen as an example of how the city is trying to keep business open while pursuing a tough COVID policy.
Tesla has produced 10,757 cars at its Shanghai plant since reopening on April 19 to April 30, and has set a target of 2,600 vehicles per day production as of May 16, Reuters reported earlier.
Factories in Shanghai that are trying to resume operations have encountered difficulties due to the city government’s tightening blockade to quell the COVID-19 outbreak.
Earlier this week, Tesla’s factory was operating below capacity due to logistics and supply chain problems.
(Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Jacqueline Wong & Simon Cameron-Moore)
