During a recent meeting between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the details of their discussion were not publicly disclosed. However, footage from China’s state broadcaster showed Premier Li praising Tesla as a successful example of Sino-American economic and trade cooperation.
Reports suggest that Musk is seeking permission to transfer driving data collected by Tesla in China to the US for processing. This move would allow Tesla to improve its autopilot driverless car software by leveraging its most advanced autonomous driving technology. Currently, Chinese laws prohibit the transfer of domestic data out of the country, and full self-driving autopilot has not been enabled in China.
Obtaining approval to transfer data collected in China abroad would be a game changer for Tesla, according to analyst Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities. Removing this barrier is crucial for Tesla’s success in China, as it is the company’s second-largest market and faces competition from Chinese rivals with their own autonomous driving software.
This visit from Elon Musk to China is expected to strengthen Tesla’s presence in the Chinese electric vehicle market at a critical moment. The potential for expanding the use of full self-driving autopilot in China could significantly impact Tesla’s growth in the region.