BEIJING: Chinese Premier Li Qiang told Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Sunday that China would “always” be open to foreign firms, state media reported, as the two met during Musk’s second visit to China within a year. “China’s very large-scale market will always be open to foreign-funded firms,” Premier Li told Musk, according to state broadcaster CCTV. He said China would “continue working hard to expand market access”, AFP reported.
The encounter between Musk, one of the world’s wealthiest persons, and China’s second-ranking official underscores the significance of China’s market for electric vehicles, with Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai being a focal point of their discussion.
CCTV reported Musk’s acknowledgment of the hardworking and intelligent Chinese team at Tesla’s Gigafactory. Musk expressed readiness to deepen cooperation with China to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
Earlier in the day, Musk met with Ren Hongbin, head of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, to discuss further cooperation and other relevant topics.
Tesla’s presence in China has not been without challenges, as evidenced by a recent recall of over 1.6 million electric vehicles in China to address steering software issues. Nonetheless, Musk’s visit aligns with China’s ongoing push for dominance in the electric vehicle market, underscored by a fierce price war among competitors and a burgeoning interest in electric vehicles among Chinese consumers.
Musk’s visit coincides with the ongoing Auto China event in Beijing, where domestic and international automakers showcase their latest innovations. Amidst intensifying competition, commentators on Chinese social media platforms speculated about Musk’s objectives during his visit, including discussions about Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology and potential collaboration opportunities with Chinese officials.
Musk’s longstanding engagement with China has drawn attention from policymakers in the United States, particularly in light of his remarks about foreign countries and geopolitical issues. Nonetheless, his visit underscores the significance of China’s market for Tesla and its ambitions for growth and innovation in the electric vehicle sector.
