Tesla Reportedly Stops Production in Shanghai

Matt Posky
by Matt Posky

Reports indicate Tesla has idled production in Shanghai, despite plans for the facility to resume production this week. Workers had been given time off for a five-day break that incorporated China’s International Workers’ Day (May 1st), with production expected to resume on the 6th. However, the facility made the surprise decision to remain closed.

Staff have been informed that the facility will not reopen until May 9th, according to inside sources. While this may lead one to wonder if the factory has found itself at the epicenter of a new coronavirus outbreak, there’s likely another explanation. Local outlets report Giga Shanghai as suffering from part shortages.

One of the biggest casualties of the pandemic has been supply chains. When the virus first appeared in China, reliable parts procurement was among the first casualties as facilities were forced into shutdown by the government. Initially, this meant foreign manufacturers faced supply chain issues and rolling shortages. The virus ultimately spread across the globe, exacerbating the problem as more and more equipment manufacturers closed.

Bottlenecks are now expected to become the norm and, according to Bloomberg, the reason Tesla had to extend its shutdown in China:

The reason for the abrupt halt wasn’t immediately clear but Chinese technology news site 36kr reported that it was because of component shortages. While Tesla’s only car factory outside the U.S. is seeing delays in receiving parts for its Model 3 in the future, it’s also facing problems with a crucial piece of manufacturing equipment that’s being fixed, according to [unnamed sources].

The production halt means that Tesla isn’t making any cars worldwide because its other vehicle-assembly plant — in Fremont, Calif. — has been idled because of the coronavirus. That’s made the Shanghai factory even more crucial for Tesla as the U.S. is weeks, if not months, behind China in reopening its economy.

Officially, Tesla said it was using the holiday to go over the location’s hardware after tweaking the assembly line. Apparently, it needs a little more work. There’s supposedly a skeleton crew on site to conduct maintenance on what should be sparkly new equipment.

The facility’s first deliveries took place in December 2019, only to have the plant placed on pause the following month as COVID-19 spread across the country. It also was among the first to resume production after getting assistance from local authorities, giving Tesla a leg up — just as its California factory came under threat from the virus, ultimately closing at the end of March.

[Image: JL IMAGES/Shutterstock]

Matt Posky
Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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  • Conundrum Conundrum on May 07, 2020

    What I never get about Musk is why all the secrecy? Will the world come to an end if he gave a straight answer? Is it parts shortages or a manufacturing equipment problem, Elon baby? Afraid of losing brand image or something irrelevant? People are aware that there's a bit of a problem worldwidejust now, and whatever the reason for delaying a whole weekend, nobody's going to freak out. I guess it all goes back to when he wouldn't reveal sales numbers openly.

    • Vulpine Vulpine on May 08, 2020

      @conumdrum: What secrecy? He's notorious for being too mouthy, isn't he? This wasn't Tesla being secretive, it was simply taking advantage of an opportunity to save money by letting the workers extend their holiday by 3 days.

  • Inside Looking Out Inside Looking Out on May 07, 2020

    May 9 is the Victory day in Russia and may be even in China too. May be that is the reason?

  • Joe This is called a man in the middle attack and has been around for years. You can fall for this in a Starbucks as easily as when you’re charging your car. Nothing new here…
  • AZFelix Hilux technical, preferably with a swivel mount.
  • ToolGuy This is the kind of thing you get when you give people faster internet.
  • ToolGuy North America is already the greatest country on the planet, and I have learned to be careful about what I wish for in terms of making changes. I mean, if Greenland wants to buy JDM vehicles, isn't that for the Danes to decide?
  • ToolGuy Once again my home did not catch on fire and my fire extinguisher(s) stayed in the closet, unused. I guess I threw my money away on fire extinguishers.(And by fire extinguishers I mean nuclear missiles.)
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