Tesla to conduct ‘complete self-inspection’ after Chinese regulators chide US carmaker over Model 3 safety, quality

Name: Tesla’s first overseas car plant nears completion in Shanghai, outdoing US-China trade war tariffs
Uploaded: 2021-02-09T12:30:06.000Z
Duration: 1 min 14 s
Description: Tesla’s first overseas car plant nears completion in Shanghai, outdoing US-China trade war tariffs

Tesla says it will strengthen internal management at its Chinese factory to better safeguard consumer rights

In 2020, Tesla reported sales of US$6.66 billion in China, more than double the US$2.98 billion a year earlier

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Tesla sold a total of 137,459 Model 3 cars in China last year, according to China Passenger Car Association. Photo: Bloomberg

Daniel Renin Shanghai

Published: 8:30pm, 9 Feb 2021Updated: 8:30pm, 9 Feb 2021

Tesla pledged to make rectifications to comply with China’s laws and regulations, after its executives were grilled by five ministry-level authorities over the quality of its Shanghai-made Model 3 electric cars.

The global electric vehicle leader said in a statement on Tuesday that it would strengthen internal management at its Chinese factory to better safeguard consumer rights, responding to regulators’ strongly worded statement that required the carmaker to respect the country’s laws and regulations.

“We sincerely accepted the guidance of government departments and deeply reflected on shortcomings in our business operations,” Tesla said. “We will carry out a complete self-inspection.”

It added that consumers’ interests would be fully respected.

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Tesla’s first overseas car plant nears completion in Shanghai, outdoing US-China trade war tariffs

The recent meeting between mainland market regulators and Tesla executives over safety and quality issues, including battery fire, over-the-air updates and unintended acceleration, represented a setback for the world’s most valuable carmaker in China where its Model 3 cars dominated the country’s premium EV segment last year.

The five market regulators – State Administration for Market Regulation, Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Emergency Management, told Tesla executives that they had received complaints about the quality and safety issues from mainland consumers though it did not disclose the exact number.