The automaker delivered 180,570 electric vehicles in the last three months of the year, eclipsing its prior all-time high of 139,300 in the third quarter of 2020, while increasing its yearly total 36 percent from 367,500 in 2019.
Shareholders vote Monday on whether to approve the merger to create Stellantis, a new company with global reach and 14 vehicle brands that will be one of the biggest automakers by volume.
BEIJING -- Tesla Inc. said Friday it has started selling the China-made Model Y crossover and will deliver them to customers starting this month, as the U.S. electric vehicle maker expands sales in the world's biggest car market.
China, which offers hefty subsidies for EVs as it seeks to cut down on pollution from gasoline or diesel vehicles, is key to Tesla's global strategy. It is expanding a Shanghai assembly plant, where it also builds the Model 3 sedan. In October, it started exporting the Model 3 to Europe.
It is also adding manufacturing capacity for EV chargers in Shanghai and expanding its sales and service network around the country. It sold over 20,000 vehicles in November.
The starting price of a Model Y in China is now 339,900 yuan ($52,091.95), according to Tesla's China website.
Tesla's rivals in China include Volkswagen Group, BMW, as well as local startups such as Nio Inc., Xpeng Inc., and Li Auto Inc., which all build and market electric crossovers models.
The automaker will outsource sales and cut distribution channels as part of a deeper restructuring in Europe, a Japanese newspaper reported.
As part of the settlement, Daimler's North American truck unit agreed to develop and implement an advanced data analytics program to enhance its ability to detect and to investigate potential safety defects as part of a two-year consent order that can be extended by NHTSA for one additional year.
The decision was driven by changes in the global economy over the last 15 months, causing both companies to reassess their capital allocation priorities.
The Chinese government said it will also beef up regulations on new auto investment and manufacturing in a move to prevent overcapacity. It will take steps to spur further consolidation in the auto industry and build a more comprehensive supply chain.
