New Details Emerge About Abandoned Tesla Roadsters Found in China

In early May, an online auction was opened for three first-generation Tesla Roadsters that were found abandoned in shipping containers in China. The auction has already attracted plenty of interest, with a high bid of $2 million placed for all three on May 30. New details have emerged about the trio, revealing some very interesting facts.

All Three Roadsters Are Sport Models

Initially, it was thought that one of the Roadsters was a base model while the other two were Sport variants. However, it has since been revealed that all three are Sport models.

Large Number of Parts Found in Shipping Containers

As of May 24, the seller, Gruber Motors, discovered that a large number of parts were found in the shipping containers. These included 4 wheels and tires, headlight assemblies, and lots of small pieces of trim. Adding to the intrigue is that many of these parts reference VIN 1185. The Tesla Roadster with VIN 1185 has not been located and is thought to have been part of this shipment, leading to a suggestion that it may have been destined to be assembled in China. However, the chassis for VIN 1185 has not been found, so the mystery remains unsolved.

Purchased by Bankrupt Chinese Car Manufacturer for Reverse Engineering

Recently discovered shipping information for the three Tesla Roadsters has revealed that they were purchased by a research and development center for an unnamed Chinese car manufacturer that went bankrupt. It is believed that this company purchased the trio for reverse engineering and planned to disassemble them.

Missing Keys

One slight nuisance with the trio is that the keys for them are missing. The keys had been held by the manager at the port office, but he has since passed away and they cannot be found. As such, the seller will replace the keys if necessary.

Extended Auction

The auction was originally scheduled to end on May 26 but has been extended to June 2. As of May 30, the highest bid for all three stood at $2 million. The cars will be moved into new shipping containers in the coming days and will be shipped either directly to the winning bidder or to Dubai, where regulations do not require viewing permits to show them to prospective buyers.

Conclusion

The discovery of the abandoned Tesla Roadsters in China has generated a lot of interest, with many people eager to get their hands on these rare vehicles. The new details that have emerged about the trio have only added to the intrigue surrounding them. It remains to be seen who will win the auction and what they will do with these historic cars.