License to build: Tesla electric cars in China + CYBRTRK

Tesla has now officially obtained the license to make and sell electric cars at its Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai, China. Meanwhile, the EV maker sent invitations for its “Cybertruck Unveil” – the long-expected pickup-truck in LA.

First to China, where Tesla had opened the Gigafactory 3 already last month. Production has run only on a trial basis so far, though. During the latest earnings call for Q3, Tesla said, however: “We have cleared initial milestones toward our manufacturing license and are working toward finalising the license and meeting other governmental requirements before we begin ramping production and delivery of vehicles from Shanghai.” The time has come now it appears.

Initially, around 3,000 Model 3 vehicles per week will roll off the assembly line in China reportedly. At full capacity, the Californians plan to produce up to 500,000 electric vehicles per year there at a later date – primarily the Model 3 and later also the Model Y.

Talking about new models coming up – the Cybertruck Unveil mentioned above, is not the Tesla Semi truck, of course. Instead, it is a pickup-truck for private use, predominantly by American buyers we expect. Rumours had been spreading for some time now regarding the name of the new model. Tesla trademark filings for ‘Cybertruck’ and ‘CYBRTRK’ plus the invites sent out now indicate the search for a name has come to an end.

The unveiling of the Tesla pickup truck will take place on 21 November at the Tesla Design Center in Los Angeles with doors opening from 7 PM local time.

Do not expect to see the new electric car on the roads anytime too soon though. The pick-up is scheduled to launch after the even longer expected Tesla Model Y. Consider the latter either as a shrunken Model X or the SUV version of the Model 3.

On the latest call, Tesla set the start of Model Y production in autumn 2020. Besides, the company expects the electric car to outsell all other models potentially. For manufacturing, the latest news is that Tesla will not only make the Model Y in Fremont and Shanghai but also at the now announced German Gigafactory 4 near Berlin.

gasgoo.com (China license), teslarati.com (Cybertruck)