As the electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla prepares to open its Shanghai plant, it is now planning to double its repair maintenance shops, add about 100 charging stations and revamp showrooms.
These plans are very different from what chief executive Elon Musk said in March regarding shutting down many of its retail stores globally as a cost-cutting measure.
However, Tesla had always treated the world's biggest EV market, China, differently.
The company and Musk don't like marketing, but Tesla has held racing events and showroom parties in the mainland.
According to Tesla vice president Tao Lin, "Building cars from the Shanghai factory is just the first step."
Shedding light on Tesla's recent plans, he added that the next step is delivering cars "very well" to the customers and providing "very good after-sales service."
Tesla wants to turn some of its showrooms in China into one-stop shops called "Tesla Centers."
Sources familiar with the matter said that these Tesla Centers will also serve as delivery sites and offer maintenance support.
The sources also added that the rollout would start in Shanghai and Guangzhou.
According to the Tesla planning documents, the company also plans on doubling its service centers to 63 from 29 and increase fast-charging stations by 39% to 362.
Wang Hao, Tesla China general manager said that expanding the service network is very important in boosting customer confidence.
He also added that the company would build more charging stations in China next year at a "faster pace."
One of the sources stated, "There is growing sales potential from more inland cities" and thus a need to naturally prepare for the growing repair and maintenance demands.
The planning documents also showed that Tesla will open new service centers in the northwestern city of Urumqi, southwestern city of Kunming and "Ice City" Harbin in the north.
Most service centers of the US EV maker are in China's coastal regions and big provincial capitals.
Sources said that plans might change depending on the circumstances.
Such efforts to boost its physical presence in China comes as the carmaker has started trial production at its $2 billion first overseas factory, the Shanghai plant, ahead of mass production by the end of December.
Tesla said it should be able to build 3,000 Model 3 sedans a week in its initial phases.
Based on research firm LMC Automotive, the Model 3 sedans a week is nearly four times the number of imported Model 3 vehicles sold in China monthly in 2019.
