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Tesla denies China issued halt notice for Shanghai plant

Tesla Inc hasn’t halted output at its Shanghai factory, though it is experiencing some disruption to logistics amid the city’s long-running Covid-19 lockdown, a spokesperson for the US carmaker said on Tuesday.
Tesla Gigafactory In Shanghai As Carmaker's Dominant Position in China Could Be Threatened Next Year The Tesla Inc. Gigafactory in this aerial photograph taken in Shanghai, China, on Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. Tesla is coming to the end of its first year selling China-made cars with a commanding position in the world's biggest electric-vehicle market, but Elon Musk shouldn't rest on his laurels.

Reuters reported earlier that output had halted, prompting Tesla to issue a statement saying it had received no notice of any Shanghai plant cessation and pointing out that some vehicles are still being made. 

Tesla’s China factory was shuttered for three weeks in April as Shanghai was plunged into lockdown in an attempt to halt community spread of Covid-19. The plant started up again in late April under a so-called closed loop system whereby workers live on site and are tested regularly.

Read more: Tesla Looking to Boost Shanghai Car Production With Second Shift

Prior to the pandemic-induced halt on March 28, Tesla workers in Shanghai were working three shifts covering 24 hours, seven days a week. The workers in the current closed-loop system have been doing 12-hour shifts, six days a week.

One of the problems stems from a shortage of wire harnesses from Aptiv Plc, which had to stop shipping supplies from a plant that supplies Tesla and General Motors Co after infections were found among its employees, Reuters said.

Tesla’s Shanghai factory, which in regular times pumps out around 2,100 cars a day, remains challenged by component shortages, other people familiar said last month. The US carmaker only has inventory for just over two weeks based on its current closed-loop schedule and logistics are a major problem for many other parts. BM

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