Tesla breaks ground for its upcoming Gigafactory in Shanghai

On January 7, Tesla founder Elon Musk along with the Mayor of Shanghai participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the carmaker’s first factory outside the US – it’s Shanghai Gigafactory.

On the day, Musk took to Twitter to announce that the initial Gigafactory will be complete later this summer, making it ready to start production of its Model 3 before the end of 2019 and reach high volume production by 2020, if everything goes according to plan.

The Gigafactory's location is a strategic advantage, with China being the world's largest electric vehicle (EV) market. By producing Tesla's Models 3 and Y, the Gigafactory will service the Greater China region, as Musk confirmed: “Shanghai Giga will produce affordable versions of 3/Y for greater China. All Model S/X & higher cost versions of Model 3/Y will still be built in US for WW market, incl China.”

Tesla had signed a deal on the construction project with Chinese authorities earlier in July, and in two years time will double Tesla's EV production.

At the end of the ceremony, Musk addressed the local media, where he expressed his delight at the speed and quality of work in Shanghai, stressing particularly on a reference to the fact that a large multi-bay Supercharger location was completed in just 12 days last year, the quickest of anywhere in the world.

Tesla also recently began production of the Model 3 for sale in the Chinese and European markets.