Will the Tesla Model X be domestically produced?
2 Answers
Tesla Model X will be domestically produced, and there is currently a plan for this. Domestic production plan for Model X: As early as the beginning of 2016, Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated that Tesla's sales in the Chinese market did not meet expectations, mainly because although the Chinese government strongly supports the development and sales of electric vehicles, the subsidy policies primarily target electric vehicles manufactured by local companies. In response, Musk mentioned that the most direct and effective solution would be to establish a factory in China for domestic production. It is estimated that if Tesla achieves domestic production in China, the price would drop by one-third. Model X variants: The Model X offers two variants. The high-performance P90D version features dual-motor all-wheel drive. In Ludicrous Mode, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 250 km/h and a range of up to 467 km, making it an incredibly fast SUV. The 90D variant also accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5 seconds, with the same top speed of 250 km/h and an even longer range of 489 km.
I've been closely following Tesla's developments recently, and from my perspective, the possibility of Tesla Model X being produced domestically in the short term is quite slim. As a luxury SUV, the Model X's sales volume is far lower than that of the Model 3 and Model Y. The Shanghai Gigafactory is currently focused on producing these popular models and has been operating at full capacity for quite some time. Localization would require significant investment in new production lines, especially for the Model X's unique falcon-wing door design, which presents high technical challenges and production costs. I suspect Tesla prioritizes meeting mass-market demand and might only consider domestic production for the Model X once Model Y output stabilizes or if there's a significant increase in demand for the Model X in the Chinese market. Additionally, while import tariffs affect the price, domestic production could potentially lower the price, which would be good news for consumers. All in all, it's best to wait patiently for official announcements.
