BEIJING: Tech billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk boarded a plane departing Beijing on Monday after a whistlestop visit that saw his company win a key data security clearance from Chinese authorities, as reported by news agency.
Musk had arrived in Beijing on Sunday, marking his second trip to China in less than a year. During his visit, he held meetings with top officials, including Premier Li Qiang, in efforts to bolster Tesla’s position in the world’s largest electric car market.
On the same day, Tesla’s locally manufactured models were included among the electric vehicles that meet China’s data security standards, a significant regulatory achievement.
Just before 1:00 pm (0500 GMT), the business mogul boarded his private jet at Beijing Capital Airport, bound for Anchorage, Alaska, according to the Chinese state-backed flight tracking app Utrip.
Additionally, international media reported that Tesla took steps towards gaining government approval to utilize its assisted driving technology in China by collaborating with tech giant Baidu for mapping and navigation services.
Despite facing increasing competition from domestic companies like BYD, Tesla’s electric vehicles remain among the top sellers in China. However, the company is striving to increase its sales by offering features such as “Full Self Driving” (FSD), which must comply with stringent data and privacy regulations.
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers disclosed that since November 2023, it had been conducting tests on vehicles with a national computer security regulator to evaluate data collection and processing practices, including personal information and exterior facial recordings. Among the compliant vehicles listed were Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y, produced at its massive factory in Shanghai.
Tesla emphasizes that its advanced assisted driving features do not render its vehicles fully autonomous, and both Autopilot and FSD functionalities are intended for use under driver supervision. In the United States, FSD is available for purchase at $8,000 or via a monthly $99 subscription.
As of the time of reporting, Tesla had not responded to AFP inquiries regarding FSD availability in China or the alleged partnership with Baidu. However, Musk hinted earlier this month on his social media platform X that FSD availability in China “may be possible very soon.
