The billionaire visited Tesla's factory in Shanghai, meeting with 100 employees there before ending his business trip to China.
On the evening of May 31, Tesla CEO Elon Musk visited the company's factory in Shanghai. A video released by Tesla China on June 1 showed Musk waving to about 100 employees there, treating them to hamburgers and soft drinks.
He thanked employees for staying late at the plant, congratulated them on their “amazing work” and commented on how they overcame the challenges. “I just want you to know that my heart is very warm. The cars that are built here are not only the most productive, but they are the best quality,” Musk said, making a heart sign with his fingers.
Bloomberg sources said the billionaire left an hour later. He boarded a private jet out of Shanghai, ending his first business trip to China since the start of the pandemic.
Elon Musk (center) poses for a photo with employees at the Tesla Shanghai factory. Photo: Tesla
Tesla CEO Elon Musk arrived in Beijing on May 30. He met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and stressed the importance of maintaining relations with China. Musk also met with CATL battery chairman Yuqun Zeng, according to photos shared on social media.
A day later, he met with China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong. The ministry later said Musk and Mr. Jin discussed electric vehicle development.
Elon Musk's schedule also included a meeting at China's Ministry of Commerce with Tesla vice presidents Tom Zhu and Grace Tao. Reuters sources also revealed that Musk met with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang. This was Ding's first one-on-one meeting with a foreign CEO.
Musk's trip caused a stir in China, attracting great attention from the people of this country, despite the increasing tension between the US and China. On social networks in this country, the billionaire is considered an idol by many people.
Tesla has received significant support from the Chinese government, as it was the first 100% foreign-owned automaker to establish a presence there. It has also received support from Shanghai officials, including access to cheap land and accelerated permitting. The city government even provided Tesla factory employees with masks and protective gear when the pandemic first emerged. During the most recent lockdown, it also provided Tesla with former military barracks to house its employees, allowing it to restart production in a closed system.
The Shanghai factory accounted for more than half of Tesla’s global output last year. The facility has the capacity to produce 1.1 million vehicles a year. The local government last month pledged to continue to increase cooperation with the company in the areas of autonomous driving and robotics.
Ha Thu (according to Bloomberg)
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