Tesla hits it big in China on social media, at leastAlthough T

esla TSLA only recently rolled out its latest China campaign with an attractive price for the electic-car companys odel S, the auto ma!er is already generating some powerful bu"" on Chinese social media# The companys odel S pricing plan for China has stirred up a nationwide discussion about the brand on microblogging service Sina $eibo, one of the most popular social-media platforms in the country# Tesla has said the odel S will sell for %&',((( yuan )*+,',%-(., which is essentially the /#S# price )*-+,(%(. plus Chinese ta0es and transportation costs# This is a big deal, since Chinese are used to imported lu0ury cars costing twice or even three times as much as their overseas price# This pricing structure is something of a ris! for Tesla, but we want to do the right thing for Chinese consumers,1 the company said in a recent statement# 23f we were to follow standard industry practice, we could get away with charging twice as much for the odel S in China as we do in the /#S#1 Tesla Chinas official Sina $eibo account, which only started posting in September, now has a little over &(,((( followers, despite having only si0 posts to date# eanwhile, Tesla founder 4lon us! has attracted about +((,((( followers on his own newly opened $eibo account in 5ust five days# 6is first 4nglish post, published on 7an# ,', has more than +,,(( comments, even if many of the commentators dont spea! 4nglish# Tesla has played its cards right by not charging e0tra money on Chinese consumers,1 said a $eibo post onday from Sun 7ingfei, whos listed as wor!ing for Ai8ufu anagement Consulting 9irm in :ei5ing# 23t cultivates customers, crac!s open the Chinese auto mar!et, and for the first time lets the Chinese consumers have an e8ual opportunity to own a world-class lu0ury car#1 Tesla otors new Chinese website, Tousule#cn )based on the Chinese name for the firm., is now ta!ing preorders, and while theres a reservation fee of ,;(,((( yuan, it can be fully refunded, according to the site# 3ve already placed an order and pic!ed accessories on your site 3n which month can 3 get the car<1 as!ed a $eibo posting from =ingfeng, who self-identifies as an e0ecutive producer at >heng"hou-based ?in0iangyou Culture Communication Co#

eanwhile, the founder of Chinese auto-information site Autohome Li0iang forwarded Tesla Chinas latest post about the pricing for the odel S with the comment@ 2A great pricing strategyA There are a do"en of preorders from friends 3 !now# Bow they are definitely going to buy it#1 3 want a test drive and to place a order, but 3 dont 8uite understand 4nglish# Can 3 get some help here<1 as!ed 9eichimr$ang, a selfdescribed general manager for :ei5ing-based 9eichi Chuangye Advertising Company, in a comment on Tesla Chinas $eibo feed# =et another $eibo commenter promised@ 2$hen there is a Tesla store in Shanghai, 3ll sell my Audi S; immediately#1 Cf course, its not all smiles and handsha!es from the Chinese public# Among the biggest concerns is how owners will be able to charge their battery-powered vehicles# 3m a huge fan of Tesla, but China needs develop charging networ! before the high-end electric vehicles get popular,1 wrote a $eiboaccount holder with the handle 2$aterblue#1 4arlier this month, Tesla said it plans to build a networ! of free charging stations across China, similar to the ones its developing in the /#S# and 4urope, though it remains to be seen how convenient these prove to be# 7anuary ,-, ,(+', +,@;, A
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