Musk: Tesla's Shanghai plant to see record weekly production

Tesla's Shanghai plant, its first overseas manufacturing facility, is expected to see "record output per week this quarter", said CEO Elon Musk after the United States carmaker released its first quarter results on Thursday.

The plant was closed for over two weeks because of local COVID-19 outbreaks. It has already resumed operation, with over 8,000 employees having returned to their post since Sunday.

Production at the Shanghai plant in the second quarter will be basically on par with the first quarter, said Musk. But he said the output will be "substantially higher in Q3 and Q4".

Tesla did not reveal production figures at its Shanghai plant, but statistics from the China Passenger Car Association showed that it sold over 182,000 vehicles in the first quarter this year.

Musk said Tesla will be able to produce 1.5 million vehicles this year globally, as its new plants in Berlin, Germany, and Austin, the United States, have started operations as well. "That is my best guess," said Musk.

Tesla produced 305,407 vehicles in the first quarter, up 69 percent year-on-year and deliveries reached 310,048 units, up 68 percent year-on-year.

The company's automotive revenues in the first quarter reached $16.86 billion, up 87 percent year-on-year.

Tesla saw its total revenues reach $18.76 billion in the first quarter this year, up 81 percent from the same quarter last year.

Its operating income stood at $3.6 billion in the quarter, up 507 percent year-on-year, with its operating margin reaching 19.2 percent.