Tesla says to expand business in China

The Tesla Model S is presented at the 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) media preview at the Cobo Center in Detroit, the United States, Jan 14, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

DETROIT - US auto maker Tesla Motors said Tuesday it plans to expand service and sales centers in China, including building supercharge stations for electric cars along highways linking Beijing and Shanghai.

"We'll do multiples in some of the key markets. Certainly service centers, but also sales points as appropriate," said Diarmuid O'Connell, Tesla's vice president for corporate & business development.

Tesla plans to expand its service and sales centers in China beyond Beijing and its suburbs, O'Connell told Xinhua.

"Shanghai is the obvious second point and then we've got a relatively aggressive geographic expansion plan," O'Connell said.

Meanwhile, O'Connell told a news conference at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) that Tesla has a plan to link Beijing to Shanghai with supercharger stations for electric cars, but did not specify the schedule.

Jerome Guillen, Tesla's vice president of worldwide sales and service, said that Tesla will start delivering vehicles in China at the end of this quarter.

Tesla has launched its Chinese website recently and allows Chinese consumers to book Tesla's electric sedans through the site.

The company reportedly opened its first Chinese showroom in Beijing in November 2013.