BEIJING, Sept 2 (Portal) – Tesla (TSLA.O) unveiled its redesigned Chinese-made Model 3 sedan to the public for the first time at a trade show in Beijing, after launching it in several countries a day earlier.
The US automaker showed off a fiery red version of the car at the China International Fair for Trade in Services – the first change to its mass-market car offering since the launch of its global bestseller, the Model Y, in 2020 (CIFTIS).
The launch of the new Model 3 also marks the first time the automaker has launched a vehicle in China ahead of the US, underscoring its growing dependence on the country where it is in a race for market share with BYD (002594. SZ).
It will be built at Tesla’s Shanghai factory and will also be exported to other markets in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Some of its new features, including a rear display for back seat passengers, appeared to be aimed at Chinese buyers.
At the show, Tesla sales representatives answered questions from interested buyers.
[1/3]Tesla’s new Model 3 sedan is on display at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China, on September 2, 2023. Portal/Florence Lo acquire license rights
“I came to the show to learn more about the car’s debut,” said a 22-year-old university student named Guo as he inspected the car.
Features he liked included upgrades to the car’s audio system and rear display, he added. “People in the backseat may not feel as bored while driving.”
Another visitor to the Tesla stand, who gave her last name only as Hu, said she wasn’t confident enough to place an order.
“There’s no particular reason (to buy Tesla) because there are so many new energy vehicles now,” she said.
Tesla has also announced that it will show the new model at the Munich auto show, which opens on Tuesday.
Reporting by Xiaoyu Yin, Jing Xu and Brenda Goh. Editing by Ros Russell
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