Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, reaffirmed the importance of strong ties with China during his first visit since the onset of the pandemic, echoing sentiments of Apple’s Tim Cook, Mercedes’ Ola Kallenius, and other tech and auto industry leaders.
Meeting with Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Tuesday, Musk emphasized the intertwined interests of China and the U.S. According to a government statement, Musk opposes any decoupling from China, expressing Tesla’s willingness to continue its expansion within the country.
These comments mirror last month’s statement from Mercedes’ Kallenius, who deemed unbundling from China “an illusion,” and Apple’s Cook underlining the symbiotic nature of the iPhone maker’s relationship with China during his March visit. General Motors’ Mary Barra also echoed the sentiment last week, affirming China as a key market for the company.
Such industry perspectives seem to contrast with political efforts, notably by U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, to assert greater influence over key trade components, such as electric car batteries and semiconductors, to counterbalance Chinese President Xi Jinping’s geopolitical power.
Tesla’s Shanghai factory, accounting for over half of the company’s global production in 2022, could be Musk’s next destination. Anonymous sources suggest a meeting with Premier Li Qiang may be on the agenda to discuss Tesla’s automated driving technology, which the company plans to introduce in China.
In welcoming Musk and other business leaders, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning expressed a desire to see foreign investors “share in the dividends of the development of China.”
Despite this apparent industry consensus, responses from Tesla and representatives from Shanghai’s government press office and the State Council Information Office of China are yet to be received.
Meanwhile, Tesla gears up for trial production of the revamped Model 3 in Shanghai. This refresh, with a sportier, sleeker design, is expected to offer stiff competition to local rivals. Shanghai’s local authorities also pledged to further strengthen ties with Tesla by investing in automated driving and robot modules.
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