
Tesla Inc. has started booking orders for its Model 3 sedan in China for a deposit of RMB 8,000 ($1,153), as confirmed by the electric carmaker's China website. Tesla’s less expensive electric car Model 3 is built with a mix of steel and aluminium in the body structure to keep the weight as well as the cost low.
"Probably some deliveries in March, but April is more certain," CEO Elon Musk said in a Twitter post.
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The company has been banking strong on its Model 3 sedan as its market performance will drive the carmaker's future. Currently, China is the largest market for electric vehicles the sales of EV is expected to pick up further because of the government’s regulation drives towards shifting to 100-percent electric vehicles on road by 2030.
Tesla had signed a deal with Shanghai authorities in July to build its first US$2 billion plant outside the United States, which would double the size of its global manufacturing. The Shanghai Gigafactory, based in eastern China would have an annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles and manufacture Model 3 and Model Y cars.
Tesla is also developing plans to start producing about 3,000 Model 3s per week in Shanghai in the initial phase to reduce the impact of tariffs.

Using aluminium in the body has helped Model 3 maintain a relatively light curb weight of 3,549 lbs. in comparison with the standard version that weighs 3,814 lbs. with a larger (and heavier) battery pack.
Tesla’s use of various steels and aluminium in Model 3’s body structure is like its first experiment towards more affordable and higher volume production of EVs on the road.
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