As the year draws to a close, Tesla China is seemingly ramping up its efforts, with recent aerial footage from the Shanghai South Port indicating the preparation of a substantial export fleet consisting of thousands of vehicles.
Drone operator and longtime Tesla observer Wu Wa captured the scenes on December 27, revealing a car carrier ship being loaded with Right Hand Drive (RHD) Teslas. Another car carrier ship is expected to transport the export fleet, comprising Model 3 and Model Y units, on January 8, although speculations hint at a potential earlier arrival. It’s essential to note that these export vehicles are likely to be included in Tesla’s Q4 production figures, not the fourth quarter’s deliveries.
In a departure from its usual strategy, Tesla China balanced domestic deliveries and exports throughout Q4 2023. Traditionally, Gigafactory Shanghai prioritized vehicle exports in the first half of a quarter, turning its focus to meeting domestic orders in the second half. Despite the export fleet sightings, domestic vehicle sales in China have remained robust. Vehicle insurance registrations for the week ending December 24 reached 18,500, suggesting an estimated 60,200 domestically sold vehicles from December 1 to December 24, according to CNEV Post.
Giga Shanghai, Tesla’s largest vehicle plant by volume, plays a crucial role in the company’s overall operations. It is the sole factory producing the Model 3 Highland, and its annual estimated vehicle production capacity exceeds 950,000, as stated in Tesla’s Q3 2023 Update Letter.
