Tesla opened its first Chinese vehicle factory, Gigafactory Shanghai, in 2019.
Construction of the Shanghai factory began in January 2019, and the site produced its first cars before the end of that year. Tesla delivered the first China-made Model 3 vehicles in December 2019.
Gigafactory Shanghai was significant because it was Tesla’s first manufacturing plant outside the United States. The factory helped Tesla serve the Chinese market locally, avoid some import costs, and establish a major export base for vehicles shipped to other markets.
The site initially concentrated on the Model 3 and later added Model Y production. It is distinct from Tesla’s Nevada factory, which was the company’s first Gigafactory and primarily supports batteries, electric motors, and vehicle production.