Tesla's first overseas R&D center opens in Shanghai

Tesla said on Monday that it has opened new research and data centers in Shanghai,  the first of its kind among the US-based company's overseas facilities.

Data security has become a key area of the Chinese regulators' focus. The data center in Lingang of the Pudong New Area will store Tesla’s local operation data and user information. 

"All personally identifiable information is securely stored in China without being transferred overseas." Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in September.

The Shanghai R&D center has 28 labs in software, firmware, electronics, materials, power, and charging.

"The Tesla center will accelerate the prosperity of China's intelligent car research ecosystem," said ZHU Xiaotong, Tesla China president.

In Q3, Tesla delivered 241 thousand vehicles and quadrupled its profit to US$1.6 billion (10.21 billion yuan). A US$4.2 billion deal from car rental giant Hertz to deliver 100,000 vehicles by the end of 2022, saw Tesla become the latest US tech company to hit US$1 trillion in market value.