Elon Musk unexpectedly visits Beijing and meets with Premier Li Qiang | Global News

Billionaire Elon Musk made a surprise visit to Beijing, sparking speculation about the unveiling of Tesla’s autonomous driving technology in China’s electric vehicle market. Musk met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss future expansion plans for his automobile company.

During the meeting, Li assured Musk that China’s vast market will always be open to foreign-funded enterprises. He emphasized China’s commitment to expanding market access and improving services to provide a better business environment for foreign companies.

Tesla’s development in China was hailed as a successful example of China-US economic cooperation by Li. He expressed hope for more cooperation between the US and China to promote stable bilateral ties.

Musk praised Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory as the company’s best-performing factory and expressed his willingness to deepen cooperation with China for mutual benefit. He also met with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade to discuss further collaboration.

Tesla has faced tough competition from Chinese EV makers in recent years, prompting the company to cut prices to maintain its leading position in China’s premium EV segment. Despite challenges, Tesla remains a popular choice in China, with strong sales and plans for further expansion in the country.

Musk’s visit to China coincided with the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, where Tesla’s presence was highly anticipated. The trip was well-received by the Chinese public, highlighting Musk’s status as a pioneer in the EV industry.

Overall, Musk’s visit to China underscores the importance of the Chinese market for Tesla’s growth and the company’s commitment to innovation and collaboration in the EV sector.