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(Yicai Global) Feb. 22 -- The first batch of Tesla Model 3 sedans exported to China reached Shanghai today, meaning the US electric vehicle giant will be able to deliver them to customers in the country before the end of the month.
A roll-on-roll-off ship named Morning Cindy arrived at Waigaoqiao Port with more than 1,600 units on board early this morning, state-backed online news outlet The Paper reported.
The port is expected to finish unloading by 5.00 p.m. today, said Huang Weidong, a consultant at Waigaoqiao Port Area Customs, adding that testing of the vehicles will take place over the weekend.
Tesla opened pre-ordering for the Model 3 to the Chinese market in early January, with three modules available for selection, priced at CNY560,000 (USD83,275), CNY499,000 and CNY433,000, respectively. The third long range, rear-wheel-drive variant of the Model 3 is currently the cheapest Tesla available in the country.
The one-month turnaround from order to delivery was made possible as the US carmaker offers higher priority to Chinese orders thanks to the relatively low tariffs on imported US vehicles, a Tesla sale representative said.