Tesla has started delivering Model 3 electric cars built at its Shanghai 'Gigafactory' in just under a year since it began work on the $2billion plant - a record for global automakers in China - and said it would ramp up deliveries from next month.

The U.S. electric vehicle maker celebrated the debut today with a ceremony where 15 Tesla employees received cars they had purchased, and one of them took the opportunity to propose marriage to his girlfriend after getting his new set of wheels.

The China-made Model 3 sedans are priced at 355,800 yuan ($50,000, £39,000) before subsidies. Imported Model 3 vehicles start at 439,000 yuan ($63,000, £48,000) for the longer-range version, while the standard range plus model costs under $40,000 in the United States.

The Shanghai plant, up and running in just 357 days, is part of Tesla's plans to bolster its presence in the world's biggest car market and minimize the impact of the U.S.-China trade war.

The automaker, which previously imported all the cars it sold in China, had said it wanted to start deliveries from the Shanghai plant before the Lunar New Year beginning on January 25.