Tesla cars in China inferior? Govt urges consistency

Tesla cars in China inferior? Govt urges consistency

Some of Tesla’s Chinese customers have complained that they’re getting inferior cars from the electric car specialist and the China government has stepped in, urging Tesla to keep its China-made vehicles consistent, Reuters reports.

Here’s the background. Tesla is now making cars in China, and its Shanghai Gigafactory delivered the first Model 3 cars in December 2019. Some buyers have said on Chinese social media that the control units in their cars run on HW2.5 chips, which are less advanced than the HW3.0 chips listed on the spec sheet.

HW3.0 chips are necessary for the full self-driving mode in Tesla’s driver assistance system, a feature that is optional when customers place their order. In a post on its Weibo account last week, the US-based EV maker said the chip swap was due to a lack of supply of the HW3.0 chips, and that it would replace the chip for those who received cars with the HW2.5 unit.

China’s ministry of industry and information technology, in a statement on the its website, urged Tesla to ensure product consistency, quality and safety.

The report says that like many others, Tesla’s production and delivery plans have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak, which started in China and has killed more than 3,100 people in the world’s second-biggest economy. China remains a big part of Tesla’s plans though, with a R&D centre in the works, as well as work on a cheaper and longer-lasting cobalt-free LFP battery ongoing.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Manifesto Dicapati on Mar 11, 2020 at 3:15 pm

    So right! proton X70 CBU way better than Ckd.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 7
    • Reality Check on Mar 11, 2020 at 8:56 pm

      Where in the article did they mention proton X70?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 0
    • Kerajaan Pintu Belakang on Mar 11, 2020 at 9:01 pm

      All cars, including our famous X70 which is made in China is low quality. This is why China cars are not allowed to be sold in any first world country like USA, entire Europe, Japan, HK, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia etc etc.

      China cars tried hard to get permission to sell in First World countires but got rejected badly.

      This is why Boyue can only be old in countries like Malaysia, Bangladesh and Pakistan

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 9
      • EDITOR on Mar 12, 2020 at 11:56 am

        In China where CRV and Boyue is sold in the same market, Boyue sales are humiliating CRV numbers. What do you say now?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
        • Because of the price gap.
          Just like why X70 outselling CRV in Malaysia.
          I will be very interested to see the sales number if X70 priced in the same bracket as CRV

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Yup.
      X70 CBU got COVID-19 feature.
      X70 CKD lacks COVID-19 feature.
      You’re the type to go for one with COVID-19 feature.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • The thing is, even Teslas made in the USA have inconsistent build quality.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 0
    • Kerajaan Pintu Belakang on Mar 11, 2020 at 9:03 pm

      ha ha ha ha, China made cars memang got no quality lah. Now only you guys know.

      Why you think people buy Forester, CX5, X-Trail, Tiguan and CRV.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 7
      • EDITOR on Mar 12, 2020 at 11:54 am

        In China where CRV and Boyue is sold in the same market, Boyue sales are humiliating CRV numbers. What do you say now?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
        • Really?! on Mar 13, 2020 at 7:33 am

          It’s useless to give facts to tikus. He is so nervous of his rice bowl now that he is working non stop through his dupes to spread lies and BS.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • dream_125 on Mar 11, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    “In a post on its Weibo account last week, the US-based EV maker said the chip swap was due to a lack of supply of the HW3.0 chips”

    If this Volkswagen would do in the USA, they would have to pay billions.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • Western Star on Mar 12, 2020 at 8:22 am

      Murican plotekted brand in Murica will never encounter this problem.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • As long as it sell cheaper than USA, its fine though.
    Less than usd35k for a tesla3 then ok.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
  • Aura89 on Mar 11, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    Lazy Chinese wants their cars to self-drive them.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 8
    • Actually, they want to have what they ordered.

      It’s not the customer’s problem that Tesla is running out of chips.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Gweilos always short change Asian markets.
    unscrupulous business tactics

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • Not only gweilos. Even the Japs is shortchanging fellow Asians.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
 

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