Tesla is currently constructing the dedicated Research and Development center that will design, engineer, develop, and test the upcoming compact car. This will be the first Tesla R&D center in China and the first outside the US. Zhu added that Tesla China aims to “design, develop and produce” its own original Tesla car that appeals to global markets.
As for the design, the new compact electric car is expected to have a hatchback body style and share the same platform as the Model 3. While it likely won’t launch for a few years until Tesla can manufacture cheaper batteries, road testing of the automaker’s new compact car could start later this year.
