Official Statement
Tesla China has officially denied rumors circulating about the Cybertruck ‘s imminent launch in the Chinese market.
Speaking to the National Business Daily (NBD), a Tesla China spokesperson explicitly stated that reports suggesting a January 1, 2025 sales launch are false.
The spokesperson emphasized that there are “no such plans” for introducing the Cybertruck to the Chinese market in the coming month.
Recent Developments and Speculation about the Cybertruck
The speculation about the Cybertruck’s potential entry into the Chinese market was fueled by several recent events:
- First, Tesla filed documentation with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) for energy consumption measurement of the Cybertruck.
- On December 11, the vehicle received an MIIT energy consumption label, classifying it as an M1 passenger car with a range of 618 kilometers.
However, this filing was subsequently revoked for undisclosed reasons.
Adding to the speculation, Tesla’s Chinese website was recently updated to include information about the Cybertruck’s three trim levels.
Chinese Market Challenges
The pickup truck market in China faces significant regulatory hurdles:
- Speed restrictions on highways for pickup trucks
- Mandatory vehicle scrapping after 15 years
- Limited market size compared to other vehicle segments
According to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), pickup truck sales from January to October 2024 reached only 427,000 units.
This stands in stark contrast to the broader passenger vehicle market (including sedans, SUVs, and MPVs), which saw sales of 17.84 million units during the same period.
Despite these challenges, there appears to be considerable interest in the Cybertruck among Chinese consumers.
This is evidenced by the attention it received during its display tour in China earlier this year.
Elon Musk’s Perspective
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has previously addressed the challenges of bringing the Cybertruck to China.
In a post on X, he acknowledged the significant difficulties in making the Cybertruck road legal in China.
He stated that while approval for Chinese roads would be challenging, Tesla could potentially send some display models to the country.
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