O Tesla CEO Elon Musk, arrived in China this Sunday (28), reported the country’s state media. It is the billionaire’s second trip to the Asian giant in less than a year. China is the largest electric vehicle market in the world.
“At the invitation of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrived in Beijing this afternoon,” reported official broadcaster CCTV. The visit had not been announced.
According to state media, Musk met with Ren Hongbin, director of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade“to discuss next steps in terms of cooperation and other issues”.
He also spoke to a senior business official, according to CCTV, which published a photo of him at the Diaoyutai in Beijing, a place where Chinese officials welcome their guests.
“It’s good to see electric vehicles progressing in China,” Musk said, according to media close to the government, stating that “all cars will be electric in the future.”
China has many business interests for Elon Musk. The last time the businessman visited the country was in June 2023.
Musk is a controversial figure in the Western world, especially after he bought the social networkold Twitter. However, he is admired in China, where Tesla cars are popular among the middle class living in big cities.
His visit comes amid a price war between companies in the electric vehicle sector, in which China is well positioned. It also coincides with the Beijing Auto Show.
After initially criticizing Chinese manufacturers, Musk changed his tone. In 2024, he said they are “the most competitive car companies in the world.”
In the last quarter of 2023, Chinese auto giant BYD attempted to overtake Tesla to become the world’s biggest seller of electric vehicles, although Musk’s company returned to the lead in the first quarter of 2024./AFP
