Elon Musk’s Surprise Visit to China Could Revolutionize Autonomous Driving Technology

During his visit, Musk met with Ren Hongbin, a representative of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and he also plans to meet with other officials. The main task is the negotiations is getting permission to use data collected by autopilot systems in China to further develop autonomous driving technologies.

Tesla is trying to expand the availability of FSD, but has previously faced restrictions on the use of its vehicles on military bases in China due to concerns about cameras built into driver assistance systems. While local electric vehicle makers such as Xpeng Inc., Xiaomi Corp. and Huawei Technologies Co actively using advanced technologies, Tesla is under pressure due to competitive pricing policies.

The situation is made worse by reports that the company has cut its workforce by 10% and the launch of an investigation by US regulators into the appropriateness of the recall of more than 2 million vehicles. However, Musk continues to make optimistic statements about Tesla’s future, including the introduction of new, more affordable models and longer self-driving “robotaxis.” forward this year.

The trip could be a key moment for Tesla as it tries to strengthen its position and restore consumer and investor confidence after recent stock market turmoil and a decline in quarterly earnings.