According to three sources familiar with the matter, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, is scheduled to travel to China this week, marking his first visit to the country in three years.
According to Reuters, Musk is scheduled to have meetings with high-ranking Chinese officials to discuss regulation and tour Tesla’s Shanghai plant.
The purpose and attendees of Musk’s trip remain undisclosed as those with information have chosen to keep the matter confidential.
According to Reuters, Musk had plans to travel to China and meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in April, but the exact timing was dependent on Li’s schedule.
Related: Chinese Watchdog Wants Tight Regulations On Connected Vehicles
Tesla has a significant presence in China, with their Shanghai plant being the largest production hub and the country being their second-largest market after the United States.
In addition to other businesses, Musk also has ownership of the social media platform Twitter, which is prohibited in China. However, there are individuals who gain access to it through virtual private networks (VPNs).
Musk’s upcoming trip to China will be his first since he made headlines for dancing on stage at Tesla’s Shanghai factory event in 2020.
Tesla is facing various challenges, including increased competition from Chinese automakers who are exporting their electric vehicles as demand in the world’s largest auto market decreases.
Tesla has not provided any information regarding its plans to expand production by 450,000 vehicles annually at its Shanghai facility. However, the company announced in April its intention to construct a factory in Shanghai for the production of Megapack energy storage products.
The company has proposed plans to increase the powertrain production capacity at the Shanghai plant to 1.75 million units per year and has submitted the proposal to local authorities.
