An insider from Tesla rebutted speculations that the US electric vehicle maker will sell cars on Chinese e-commerce giant JD.Com.

Claims that Tesla will sell its models on JD.Com are false, the insider told Yicai yesterday. The e-commerce site has yet to comment.

JD.Com posted a picture of a red Tesla with the caption "See you on Dec. 31" on Weibo yesterday, with the carmaker reposting it soon after.

Tesla and JD.Com may advance their tie-up in the home power charging and energy storage areas, an industry insider told Yicai. In response, the Tesla insider noted to wait for an official announcement.

Earlier this year, Tesla announced landing on JD.Com and opening flagship stores on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and Alibaba Group Holding's Tmall. The carmaker sells its home new energy charging piles, chargers, and other auxiliary products in its flagship stores on JD.Com.

Tesla's Chief Executive Elon Musk has opposed marketing and third-party dealers on e-commerce sites, so the carmaker has never sold EVs on such platforms.

Tesla had a sales dispute with Chinese group-buying discount site Pinduoduo in 2020 when a Tesla Model 3 was sold for only CNY251,800 (USD35,241) via group buying, a CNY20,000 (USD2,799) discount from the official price set by the carmaker.

Tesla later published an emergent notice denying the seller's authenticity and saying it kept the right to hold him accountable for his action.