Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai has reached a major milestone, producing its 3 millionth vehicle since it began operations.
The factory, which started building the Model 3 in late 2019, achieved this milestone in less than five years, showcasing its rapid production capabilities.
As of September 2024, Giga Shanghai had exported over 1 million vehicles to countries across Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and even Australia and New Zealand.
The 3 millionth car was a red Model Y, a model that has become a core focus of the factory for both domestic and international markets.
Tesla originally announced plans for the Shanghai factory in 2018 to reduce costs associated with importing cars to China. The location in Lingang, Shanghai, was chosen for its strategic benefits and incentives.
Construction began in January 2019 and was completed in just six months—an impressive timeline for such a large facility. Production kicked off with the Model 3 in October 2019, and the Model Y followed in late 2020.
Giga Shanghai’s role quickly expanded from local production to becoming a key export hub for Tesla. This has helped the company meet demand in markets outside China, especially during times of global supply chain disruptions.
Recently, Tesla set a new record for quarterly sales in China for Q3, with 181,138 cars sold, marking a significant increase year-over-year.