Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, made a high-profile visit to China, where he met with Prime Minister Li Qiang to seek approval for the implementation of fully autonomous driving technology in the country.

According to reports from Ednews via sozcu.com.tr, Musk's agenda includes plans to introduce autonomous driving mode, known as "Fully Automatic Driving" (FSD), in Tesla vehicles in China, amidst stiff competition from local electric car manufacturers.

During the meeting with Prime Minister Li, Musk reiterated Tesla's commitment to deepen cooperation with China, emphasizing the potential for mutual benefits in the partnership.

Chinese state media confirmed the discussions, noting Premier Li's affirmation that China remains open to foreign investment, including from companies like Tesla.

Musk's ambitious goal involves transferring data collected in China to train Tesla's autonomous driving algorithms. However, challenges arise from data storage requirements, with Chinese regulations mandating data storage within the country conflicting with US requirements for Chinese-made systems.

To address these concerns, Tesla has taken proactive steps, including establishing a data center in Shanghai to process Chinese consumer data in compliance with local laws.

Despite Tesla's global prominence, the company faced a 9 percent decline in overall sales and a significant drop in profits during the first quarter of the year. To counter this trend, Tesla resorted to discounting its vehicles, leading to a 32 percent decrease in the company's share price in 2024.

Musk's visit to China underscores the strategic importance of the Chinese market for Tesla's future growth and technological advancements in autonomous driving technology.