During a recent meeting between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the two discussed the possibility of allowing Tesla to transfer driving data collected in China to the US for processing. While details of their discussion were not publicly disclosed, footage from China’s state broadcaster showed Premier Li praising Tesla as a successful example of Sino-American economic and trade cooperation.
According to reports, Musk is seeking permission to transfer this data in order to improve Tesla’s 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. However, 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.
Analyst Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities believes that obtaining approval to transfer data collected in China abroad would be a game changer for Tesla. This move could significantly impact Tesla’s growth in the region, particularly as it expands its use of full self-driving autopilot in China. Overall, this visit from Elon Musk to China is expected to strengthen Tesla’s presence in the Chinese electric vehicle market at a critical moment.