Tesla issues clarification on Driver Testing in Chinese Customer

A Tesla vehicle "pick-up" test that requires a score of at least 80 percent to pass for new Tesla buyers is a misunderstanding of an optional activity to enhance Tesla customer experience when taking delivery of new vehicles, Tesla said on Sunday.

In a post on its customer support account on Sina Weibo, Tesla said it has recently received a lot of queries about whether a "pick-up" test is required for taking delivery of new Tesla cars.

The test is actually an optional activity that is undergoing a trial, and it's not mandatory for Tesla car buyers, let alone a suggested 80 percent score for pick-up, read the post, noting that no restrictions are imposed in the course of new car delivery.

The "voluntary and unrestricted" test was envisioned to enhance the appeal of the delivery experience and help car owners improve the new vehicle user experience, Tesla said in the post, disclosing its rollout of individualized activities across Chinese cities to assist users in better understanding safe driving and vehicle details.

The Weibo post came after a Tesla statement earlier on Sunday claimed no abnormalities have been found in the brake system of a Tesla car which reportedly lost control and smashed into the wall in an underground garage in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. 

With a continued focus on Tesla safety woes, especially about its braking system, a driving school in Shanghai also recently launched a new training service for Tesla drivers, prompted by the proposal of Tesla's China Vice President Tao Lin to strengthen consumer education in driving.

The Hangzhou accident was among a flurry of accidents involving Tesla vehicles in the Chinese market.

Statistics from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) show that Tesla sold 25,845 EVs in April in the Chinese market, down 27.15 percent from March's 35,478 vehicles. 

Tesla's shares took a beating amid its China troubles, having fallen 16.87 percent this month as of Friday's market close. This compares with a 3.82 percent decline in the NASDAQ so far in May.

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