Tesla new car registrations in China went down by 46% in January compare with the previous month, according to Bloomberg.
A total of 3,563 Teslas were registered in China, down from 6,643 in December, according to state-backed China Automotive Information Net, which gathers industry data based on insurance purchases. Of the January registrations, 2,605 were for cars built in China.
The Bloomberg report said this was due to the Lunar New Year holiday and an emerging coronavirus outbreak kept vehicle buyers away.
While Tesla had bucked the trend in China’s waning electric-car market in the previous two months, the January drop shows the U.S. brand isn’t immune to the challenges the industry is facing, the report said, adding:
China’s car market is headed for a third straight annual decline as the coronavirus outbreak exacerbates a slump started by an economic slowdown and trade tensions.
In total, deliveries of new-energy vehicles in China from carmakers to dealerships tumbled 54% last month, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, an industry body.
Affected by the new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic, Tesla temporarily closed all offline stores in the Chinese mainland on February 2.
Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, Tesla's Shanghai factory resumed work on February 10 after a short suspension of work, becoming one of the earliest auto companies to resume work in China.
The epidemic of new coronavirus pneumonia has brought certain impacts to all walks of life, and new energy vehicle manufacturers Tesla is no exception. The temporary closure of Tesla's Shanghai super factory will directly affect the Model 3 delivery plan.
On February 20, the Tesla Super Factory in Lingang New Area of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone was operating at full capacity to resume production.
In order to ensure the physical health of the factory employees during the epidemic, as well as the stability and safety of production, Tesla adopted scientific prevention and control measures. SH Observer quoted the factory manager as saying.
Before each employee arrives, Tesla uses digital tools to continuously track its health and schedule to ensure that all employees are healthy and safe. During work, Tesla provides adequate protection measures for on-the-job employees.
Apart from equipment and materials equipped with sufficient masks, goggles, disinfectant and other equipment, Tesla conducts careful health monitoring of employees daily and strictly disinfects work areas to provide employees with a safe production environment.
In addition, the factory provides daily lunch and dinner to ensure that employees have two-to-one activities between the dormitory and the factory to minimize the probability of external infection.
