Elon Musk’s recent flight to China has sparked speculation about his agenda, with reports indicating he aims to meet senior officials to discuss the introduction of Tesla’s autonomous driving software in the Chinese market. Despite being one of Tesla’s significant markets, China has yet to see the availability of Tesla’s autopilot software, FSD, introduced four years ago.
The delay in introducing FSD in China comes at a crucial time when Tesla faces fierce competition and struggles with disappointing sales in the region. Chinese electric car manufacturers like Xpeng are aggressively developing their self-driving software, posing a threat to Tesla’s dominance in the market.
Apart from discussing the introduction of autonomous driving software, Musk is reportedly seeking approval from Chinese authorities to send data collected in China abroad. This data would be crucial for training algorithms and further advancing Tesla’s autonomous driving technology.
Musk’s movements are closely scrutinized by the financial world, with his recent postponement of a visit to India due to Tesla commitments raising eyebrows. Shortly after, Tesla announced price reductions for its vehicles in both China and the US, suggesting a strategic move to stimulate sales amidst the challenging market conditions.