Business

Tesla driving further into China

Tesla, the electric car maker, will focus on opening more showrooms in China next year, and hundreds of vehicles have been ordered since Tesla opened a Beijing location in November, according to a China Daily report.

Tesla shares have see-sawed this year after a rash of stories about battery-related fires called into question vehicle safety. Earlier this week, US regulators reaffirmed the safety rating for its Model S sedan for the 2014 model year.

Tesla ended 2012 with a stock price of $33.87, but shares have soared in 2013 as the company realized its first quarterly profit and paid off a federal loan much earlier than expected. Shares reached an all-time high of $194.50 on Sept. 30.

Tesla gained 2.7 percent Thursday, closing at $155.50.