Published

Tesla Wants U.S. to Help Its Plans in China

Tesla Motors Inc. wants the White House to pressure China Premier Xi Jinping to ease import duties and rules that require foreign carmakers who build cars in China to do so through 50:50 partnerships with Chinese manufacturers, The Wall Street Journal reports.
#hybrid

Share

Tesla Motors Inc. wants the White House to pressure China Premier Xi Jinping to ease import duties and rules that require foreign carmakers who build cars in China to do so through 50:50 partnerships with Chinese manufacturers, The Wall Street Journal reports. Xi plans to visit the U.S. in September.

Tesla wants to eventually produce its electric cars in China to avoid hefty import tariffs on its American-made vehicles. China's decision to weaken the yuan has made importing the company's $76,000 Model S even less attractive.

The company also faces rapidly growing competition from a bevy of Chinese-backed EV makers in the U.S., the Journal notes. It lists China's Atieva, Faraday Future and Leshi Internet Information & Technology. The newspaper says several of the companies have hired multiple engineers away from Tesla.

Tesla complains that these carmakers don't face comparable partnership rules or high taxes on vehicles they build in the U.S. or import from China, thus giving them an unfair advantage.

RELATED CONTENT

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions