Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, made an unannounced visit to Beijing to meet with senior officials, reportedly discussing the rollout of Tesla’s full self-driving (FSD) software and the approval to transfer data overseas. Chinese Premier Li Qiang praised Tesla’s development in China as a symbol of successful US-China economic cooperation during their discussions. While Tesla has yet to introduce FSD in China, Musk hinted at its imminent availability.
Rival Chinese automakers like Xpeng have been vying to compete with Tesla by launching similar autonomous driving features. Musk seeks approval to transfer data collected in China abroad to enhance Tesla’s autonomous driving technology, a move currently restricted by Chinese regulations.
Musk’s visit coincides with the Beijing Auto Show, where Tesla is notably absent from the exhibition floor. The trip follows Musk’s cancellation of a planned visit to India due to Tesla commitments. Amidst a global EV market slowdown and internal challenges, including workforce reductions, Tesla faces scrutiny from US auto safety regulators regarding the adequacy of its recent vehicle recalls.
Despite these challenges, Tesla remains a major player in the Chinese EV market, having sold over 1.7 million vehicles since its entry a decade ago. Its Shanghai factory stands as the company’s largest manufacturing facility. Musk’s discussions in Beijing highlight Tesla’s strategic focus on expanding its presence in China’s burgeoning electric vehicle sector.
