(Yicai Global) Dec. 31 -- Tesla has opened its first service center in western China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to have more than 200 such car outlets in 60 mainland cities.

The 1,620-square meter service center began operating in Urumchi, the California-headquartered electric vehicle firm's Beijing arm said on its WeChat account today.

The move is strategic. From January to July, Urumchi recorded a fourfold increase in NEV sales, according to official data. Xinjiang residents have almost 50,000 new energy vehicles.

The charging network is improving. Tesla has built two supercharging stations and placed 14 supercharging piles in the regional capital city. The autonomous region has a total of seven supercharging stations and 36 supercharging piles. Moreover, there are six destination charging stations and 12 destination charging piles across Xinjiang.

Tesla wrapped up building its 2,600-kilometer-long China section of the Silk Road charging route late last year. The section begins in northwestern China's Xi'an and ends in Urumchi with a total of 11 charging stations along the way.

Editor: Emmi Laine