Tesla accelerates plans for 'Gigafactory'

Tesla Inc will start partial production in China in the second half of next year, the Shanghai municipal government said on Wednesday, as the US electric vehicle maker advanced its push in the world's largest auto market.

Land leveling has basically been completed and site construction is on schedule to go ahead, the local authority said in a WeChat post describing a visit by Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong and Vice-Mayor Wu Qing.

After listening to briefings from company representatives and checking on popular models, the officials encouraged the acceleration of the plant's construction on the premise of ensuring production safety and project quality, the post said.