Tesla planning to make ‘Chinese-style’ vehicles
The ambitious electric car maker has begun the recruitment process for a new research and development facility in China.
In a post on its official WeChat account, Tesla has started looking for candidates to work in its planned research and development (R&D) outpost in China.
The company put the call out for applicants, stating: "In order to achieve a shift from 'Made in China' to 'Designed in China,' [Elon Musk] has proposed a very cool thing: set up a R&D centre in China."
Tesla says it wants to make "Chinese-style" vehicles, and included a sketch of a small city hatch with styling elements borrowed from the Model 3.
We don't know if the sketch is an accurate depiction of a vehicle Tesla is planning to produce, or whether it's just an indication of the class and size of car Tesla is hoping its new Chinese R&D facility will help to design.
Applications must be submitted by February 1, but it's unclear where or when Tesla in China is planning to open its R&D facility.
The company recently opened its first overseas car manufacturing plant in Shanghai. The new "Gigafactory" is currently making the Model 3 sedan for local consumption, allowing the company to sidestep tariffs for imported vehicles.
The site is also earmarked to produce the similarly-sized Model Y crossover.