Tesla CEO Elon Musk Explores Full Self-Driving Software and Data Transfer in Shanghai Visit
SHANGHAI/BEIJING – Tesla CEO Elon Musk paid an unannounced visit to Beijing in China to discuss the rollout of Full Self-Driving software and the possibility of transferring data overseas. With China being Tesla’s second-largest market, this visit holds immense significance, as Musk met with government officials and key stakeholders to accelerate Tesla’s growth plans in the country, according to an anonymous source.
Successful U.S.-China Trade Cooperation: Meeting with Premier Li Qiang
Chinese state media reported that Musk had a meeting with Premier Li Qiang, where Li acknowledged Tesla’s development in China as a successful example of economic and trade cooperation between the United States and China. Musk confirmed the meeting and expressed his honor in a social media post, highlighting their long-standing relationship and referring to their early Shanghai days.
Full Self-Driving Expansion in China: Potential Competition with Chinese Automakers
Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, the most autonomous version of Autopilot, has not been made available in China yet, despite customer demand. However, Musk revealed on social media platform X that FSD may soon be accessible to Chinese customers. Rival Chinese automakers, including Xpeng, have been striving to gain a competitive edge over Tesla by introducing similar autonomous driving software.
Approval to Transfer Data Abroad: Strategic Data Collection and Algorithm Development
Musk aims to secure permission to transfer Chinese data collected by Tesla’s autonomous driving fleet abroad. This data plays a crucial role in training the algorithms used in Tesla’s autonomous driving technologies. Since 2021, Tesla has stored all Chinese data locally as mandated by Chinese regulators, refraining from transferring any data back to the United States. Musk’s visit emphasizes the importance of gathering data from China’s diverse traffic conditions.
Continued Growth and Expansion in China
During Musk’s visit, he highlighted the progress of electric vehicles (EVs) in China, suggesting that all cars will be electric in the future. Tesla has been a significant player in China’s EV market, with over 1.7 million cars sold since its entry a decade ago. The Shanghai factory, Tesla’s largest globally, has played a pivotal role in its success in the Chinese market.
Investigations, Auto Show Presence, and Future Plans
Musk’s visit to China coincided with the Beijing auto show, though Tesla did not have a booth at the event. Meanwhile, U.S. auto safety regulators have initiated an investigation to verify the adequacy of Tesla’s recent vehicle recall amid concerns raised over Autopilot-related incidents. Additionally, Musk revealed plans to introduce new, cheaper models and a “robotaxi” with self-driving technology.
Future of Autonomous Driving in China: Tesla’s Leading Role and Expert Views
Grace Tao, Tesla’s Vice President in charge of external relations in China, emphasized in a commentary published by People’s Daily, a state media outlet, that autonomous driving technologies will be the new growth engine for the EV industry. Tao gave credit to Tesla’s forefront position in autonomous driving research and development, enabled by its “end-to-end neural network” technology and data collected from millions of Tesla cars.
Musk’s Leadership, Tesla’s Global Position, and Struggles
Elon Musk’s visit to China showcases his commitment to Tesla’s global expansion and reaffirms the paramount importance of the Chinese market. Despite recent challenges, including falling sales and intense competition from Chinese EV brands, Musk remains optimistic and unfolds ambitious plans to innovate further. Tesla’s journey in China and Musk’s meetings with influential figures reflect the dynamic landscape of the EV industry.
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