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Tesla steals the limelight at the Shanghai trade expo, proving ‘Chinese consumers and US products are still intertwined’
- ‘Tesla’s success [in China] proves that Chinese consumers and US products are still intertwined,’ says retail expert
- Huge crowds gathered to see the Model S Plaid and Model X Plaid debut at the China International Import Expo
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Tesla demonstrated its deepening appeal for Chinese customers at the world’s largest import trade fair, shrugging off the soured relationship between Beijing and Washington.
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The US carmaker stole the show once again at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) that started on Saturday, even though its new models on display are not yet available to mainland customers.
Though there were fewer people at the event than usual because of Covid-19 pandemic curbs, Tesla’s booth drew a huge crowd on Sunday afternoon.
They were eager to take a look at the US-made Model S Plaid and Model X Plaid, which were making their debuts in China.
A Tesla official at the booth, who asked not to be identified, said the hectic scene beat the company’s expectations. The company “had just hoped to share [its] latest products and vision about new-energy vehicles, but many visitors were keen on owning the new models,” he said.
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“Tesla’s success [in China] proves that Chinese consumers and US products are still intertwined,” said chief executive of Shanghai Yacheng Culture, a firm that deals with marketing and branding for retail companies. “After all, geopolitical tensions will not stop US and European companies from doing business in China, because of the gargantuan size of the market.”
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