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Tesla Plans Factory In China, Discounts Insurance For Self-Driving US Cars (electrek.co)

Business Insider reports: Tesla has created a customized insurance package, InsureMyTesla, that is cheaper than traditional plans because it factors in the vehicles' Autopilot safety features and maintenance costs. InsureMyTesla has been available in 20 countries, but Tesla just recently partnered with Liberty Mutual to make the plan available in the U.S. InsureMyTesla shows how the insurance industry is bound for disruption as cars get safer with self-driving tech.
Electrek reports: There have been several false alarms over the past few years about Tesla building a factory in China. Earlier this year, Tesla finally confirmed working with the Shanghai government to establish a manufacturing facility in the region and promised an announcement by the end of the year. Now the Wall Street Journal reports that they have come to an agreement with the local authorities on a "wholly owned" factory in the region... China is already the biggest market for electric vehicles, or any vehicles for that matter, and Tesla profited from the demand by tripling its sales to over $1 billion in the country in 2016. Tesla continues to have strong sales in the country this year, where it leads foreign electric car sales with no close second.

3 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Great, now it'll ALL be made in CHINA! by Rei · · Score: 4, Informative

    The Chinese gigafactory is for the Chinese market (the largest EV market in the world). The US gigafactory is for the US and European markets (although the EU will likely get its own gigafactory eventually).

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  2. Re:Great, now it'll ALL be made in CHINA! by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It doesn't matter. Getting in bed with the Chinese apparently means they now have a significant influence within your company.

    Say, just as a completely hypothetical example, the Chinese government doesn't want a political dissenter living in New York to be able to broadcast videos critical of the Chinese government. Why, just drum up some evidence of harassment, and you get your YouTube and Facebook accounts blocked, just like that. Maybe you even pressure the Chinese security officer who is currently the head of Interpol to file some charges against him. And, naturally, it's completely coincidental that this happened during the once-every-five-years meeting of the Chinese communist party.

    But like I said, that's just a hypothetical example. I'm probably over-thinking this, right?

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  3. Re:Collective? by mspohr · · Score: 5, Informative

    In the US, they are using Liberty Mutual for "Insure my Tesla".
    Out of curiosity, I entered my information and received an insurance quote for my Tesla which is 4 times what I am currently paying.
    So... not a good deal... at all.

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