Tesla to power up across China, says Musk

Tesla Motors Inc hopes to launch a nationwide charging and service network for its electric vehicles by as early as 2015, CEO Elon Musk said in Beijing on Monday.

Tesla will build solar-powered charging stations in Beijing and Shanghai this year and will add more charging stations across the country in the coming years, Musk said during his first public appearance in China.

The 42-year-old billionaire did not reveal who his Chinese partners will be in building the stations. But China Daily reported last week, citing a company insider, that Tesla may join up with State-owned oil giant Sinopec Group for the charging network project in the country.