Several state-owned enterprises in the Shanghai pilot free trade zone have recently procured a batch of Tesla Model Y vehicles for corporate use, marking Tesla’s entry into China’s government procurement arena, local authorities said.
Last month, announcements on the government procurement website of the neighboring Jiangsu Province, a major economic powerhouse, confirmed Tesla’s entry into the province’s new energy vehicle procurement catalog.
The Jiangsu Provincial Government Procurement Center informed reporters that Tesla proactively applied for participation in the procurement process. The center evaluated the eligibility based on parameters and price, and Tesla met the criteria. The procurement directory is open to all manufacturers, and any models that meet the specified parameters and price, and pass a certain review process, can be included.
Additionally, the Jiangsu Provincial Government Procurement Center emphasized that government procurement does not include imported goods, which require special approval. “But Tesla is not considered an import; it is classified as a domestic vehicle,” explained a staff member from the center.
According to an official report in April on automotive data security compliance, Tesla was the sole foreign automaker among six companies that had met the specified criteria.
