Tesla has exported its first vehicles from China since its Shanghai plant reopened on April 19th, shipping 4,767 cars to Slovenia.
Chinese media outlet Shanghai Observer reported that the Glovis Splendor vehicle carrier left port early this morning, headed to the Slovenian port of Koper. Tesla also plans to ship a further 4,100 cars on Friday according to the report.
“Tesla was in a big hurry to load cars freshly off the production lines onto the vessel yesterday afternoon,” the Observer cited an anonymous official as saying.
Tesla’s factory was closed on March 27th as part of stringent lockdown measures implemented across Shanghai in the face of a resurgence of Covid-19 cases. The plant remained closed for 22 days before its much-publicized reopening on April 19th. Chinese authorities used the company as an example of how they were making every attempt to keep businesses open despite public health measures.
The automaker failed to export any units from its Shanghai plant in April as a result of the measures. Since production resumed the company has manufactured 10,757 cars at the plant, with Tesla employees eating and sleeping on-site as they work around the clock to fill the gap.
Tesla has set an output target of 2,600 vehicles a day from May 16th.
Whilst some businesses in Shanghai have been allowed to reopen, others remain closed. The resumption of production at Tesla has been challenged by this situation, with some local suppliers currently not permitted to recommence trading.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that lockdowns in China are “being lifted rapidly” and doesn’t expect them to cause many issues moving forward.