Tesla is now an official Chinese government car

Tesla has made history by being included in a Chinese government purchase list for the first time. The government of Jiangsu province in eastern China has listed Tesla as the only foreign-owned electric vehicle brand alongside domestic brands like Volvo and SAIC. This move allows government agencies and public groups in the province to procure Tesla cars as service vehicles, emphasizing the close relationship between China and Elon Musk's company. The announcement has sparked discussions on Chinese social media about the use of foreign cars by the government. Tesla's presence in China has been growing significantly, with a massive gigafactory in Shanghai producing a large number of cars locally. Despite facing competition from Chinese rivals, Tesla remains a key player in the Chinese electric vehicle market. The company's cars were previously restricted from certain government and military areas in China due to security concerns, but these restrictions were lifted after passing data security requirements. Additionally, tensions between China and the West are escalating, with the European Union imposing additional tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles to deter unfair competition.