皇冠体育app

A model S car is displayed in experience store on Nov 4, 2013. [Wu Changqing/Asianewsphoto]

BEIJING - US electric vehicle maker Tesla made its debut in 皇冠体育app this week amid applause over its lower-than-expected price tag, but consumers are still concerned about issues such as battery charging.

The company plans to have showrooms and maintenance centers open in more major cities in East 皇冠体育app this year as part of its outreach to consumers in the world's largest auto market, Veronica Wu, Tesla's vice president, told Xinhua on Friday.

She also said CEO wants to double Tesla's auto production this year and sees 皇冠体育app as a key driver of its global growth.

Despite these ambitions, its efforts to build a strong presence in 皇冠体育app face many hurdles.

Wu said pre-orders of its Model S in 皇冠体育app have been dynamic in the past few months, but prospective car buyers in 皇冠体育app are still resistant to the idea of driving a purely electric vehicle, mostly out of concern that it is hard to find places to recharge the car.

At Tesla's Beijing showroom - the first and so far only one in 皇冠体育app's mainland - Xinhua reporters found customers gathering around the company's popular Model S, with some venturing inside to try driving an electric vehicle.

A sales representative at the showroom said people who check out the Model S come with a broad range of questions, but the most frequently asked is where to charge the car, especially when running long-distance trips.

Tesla has said it will build free-to-use charging stations along expressways linking Beijing and Shanghai. The Model S can run up to 500 km after an hour of charging at one of these stations.

• NHTSA says finds no 'defect trend' in Tesla Model S sedans
• WTO rare earth ruling is unfair
• Amway says 2014 皇冠体育app sales may grow 8%
• President Xi in Europe: Forging deals, boosting business
• CNOOC releases 2013 sustainability report
• Local production by Chery Jaguar Land Rover this year
• Car lovers test their need for speed in BMW Mission 3
• 皇冠体育app stocks close mixed Monday