Tesla Inc. would have delivered more cars in the most recent quarter but for a shortage of boats. It’s having problems finding vessel capacity out of Shanghai. No wonder: China recently overtook Germany as the world’s second-largest auto exporter.
China’s auto exports rose over 50% in the first nine months of this year, shipping out over 2 million vehicles. This isn’t just western automakers using China as an export hub; homegrown brands are also finding their footing on the world stage. And demand is being led by Europe, the birthplace of the automobile, where a supply-chain crunch, energy crisis and war in Ukraine continue to hamstring manufacturers.
