Tesla’s China-made vehicle deliveries up 16% in March

SHANGHAI (Reuters) – U.S. electric motor vehicle (EV) maker Tesla (NASDAQ:) Inc sent 65,814 China-made automobiles in March, up 16% from the former thirty day period, facts from the China Passenger Motor vehicle Association confirmed on Monday.

But manufacturing at Tesla’s Shanghai manufacturing facility, 55,462 cars and trucks, was only 154 models larger than in February, a shorter month throughout which workers usually get some time off for the Lunar New 12 months holiday break, the knowledge confirmed.

The association claimed EV makers in China produced far much less autos in complete than expected in March, owing to measures taken throughout the region to handle COVID-19.

EV makers are selling from stockpiles to help deliveries, claimed association secretary standard Cui Dongshu.

All round passenger motor vehicle gross sales in March in China totalled 1.61 million, down 10.9% from a 12 months previously, the affiliation said.

China has imposed rigorous lockdowns to consist of the spread of the hugely contagious Omicron variant in various locations – such as Jilin province and Shanghai, where factories of main automakers and their suppliers are positioned.

These steps nationwide experienced disrupted logistics and affected retail sales of autos, Cui extra.

Automakers had been struggling with “remarkable” pressures to secure their deliveries, he mentioned.

Chinese EV maker Nio (NYSE:) mentioned on Saturday it had suspended production right after the country’s measures to contain the the latest epidemic surge had disrupted operations at its suppliers. Shares in Nio slumped 9% on Monday.