Tesla is pushing the White House to address Chinese auto-industry rules during President Xi Jinping s visit to the U.S. next month, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
China bans foreign auto makers from building cars in the country without a Chinese partner. General Motors, Ford Motor and other major auto manufactures produce vehicles in China through joint ventures. Tesla does not have such an agreement.
The requirement that Tesla establish a joint venture for local manufacturing and other obstacles to our activities, such as much higher import duties in China compared to the United States, put American car companies at a significant disadvantage, a Tesla spokesman told the Journal.
Tesla has made inroads into the Chinese market since entering in 2014. The company also faces new competition from joint, U.S.-Chinese ventures in the electric vehicle market.
Photo: Tesla Motors delivers Model S cars to their first buyers in China on April 23, 2014. (AFP/Getty Images)
