<p>Tesla will this month begin exporting cars to Europe that are made at its new factory in Shanghai, the fast-growing US electric carmaker has announced.</p>.<p>The Model 3 vehicles will be shipped to more than 10 countries including France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, the group said in a statement sent Tuesday to AFP.</p>.<p>"This decision is evidence of the excellence of Chinese manufacturing," the company said.</p>.<p>Last year, Tesla built its third factory in China's financial capital in a record 10 months. It already has facilities in New York and Nevada.</p>.<p>The first factory outside the United States should offer Tesla key access to China's auto market, which is now the largest both in the world and for the US company.</p>.<p>It is a key step forward in Tesla CEO Elon Musk's strategy of going global.</p>.<p>The multi-billion-dollar plant is unusual for China, which typically requires foreign automakers to forge manufacturing joint ventures with domestic firms, which means sharing profits and technology with local partners.</p>.<p>Musk has said the factory will eventually have an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles.</p>.<p>Exporting cars from China to Europe will allow Tesla to reach the lucrative European market before its fourth factory is up and running outside Berlin.</p>.<p>The Tesla Model 3 -- its mid-price, mass-market offering -- is more compact and cheaper than the firm's Model S and Model X.</p>
<p>Tesla will this month begin exporting cars to Europe that are made at its new factory in Shanghai, the fast-growing US electric carmaker has announced.</p>.<p>The Model 3 vehicles will be shipped to more than 10 countries including France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, the group said in a statement sent Tuesday to AFP.</p>.<p>"This decision is evidence of the excellence of Chinese manufacturing," the company said.</p>.<p>Last year, Tesla built its third factory in China's financial capital in a record 10 months. It already has facilities in New York and Nevada.</p>.<p>The first factory outside the United States should offer Tesla key access to China's auto market, which is now the largest both in the world and for the US company.</p>.<p>It is a key step forward in Tesla CEO Elon Musk's strategy of going global.</p>.<p>The multi-billion-dollar plant is unusual for China, which typically requires foreign automakers to forge manufacturing joint ventures with domestic firms, which means sharing profits and technology with local partners.</p>.<p>Musk has said the factory will eventually have an annual production capacity of 500,000 vehicles.</p>.<p>Exporting cars from China to Europe will allow Tesla to reach the lucrative European market before its fourth factory is up and running outside Berlin.</p>.<p>The Tesla Model 3 -- its mid-price, mass-market offering -- is more compact and cheaper than the firm's Model S and Model X.</p>