Key facts
- Tesla's Roadster demonstration involved a leap over parked cars.
- Pre-orders for the Roadster are open in China with a 332,000 yuan deposit.
- The People's Daily cited China's 35.6% share of global automotive patent publications.
Tesla's demonstration of its redesigned Roadster sports car, which included stunts like leaping over parked cars, has sparked debate in China about domestic innovation. The People's Daily, the Communist Party's flagship newspaper, published commentary on Wednesday urging the public not to undervalue China's technological advances. The newspaper characterized Tesla's vehicle as a refined demonstration of a concept rather than a practical everyday car, noting uncertainties regarding regulations, applications, and safety certification. China Passenger Car Association secretary general Cui Dongshu echoed this sentiment, calling the technology an engineering experiment distinct from China's development of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft for urban transport. The People's Daily highlighted China's significant share of global automotive patent publications and cited advancements from domestic companies like Xpeng, BYD, and CATL as evidence of the nation's innovative capacity. The commentary argued that competition accelerates technological breakthroughs and that China's open automotive industry is willing to compete internationally, with Tesla's Shanghai factory stimulating progress among domestic manufacturers.