The Guardian-Watershed moment for Tesla as Elon Musks visit to China reaps quick reward
April 29, 2024 3 min 525 words
西方媒体的这篇报道主要内容是：特斯拉CEO埃隆马斯克（Elon Musk）在未事先公布的情况下于周末访问中国，并与中国总理李强会面。随后，特斯拉与百度达成协议，将使用百度提供的地图数据，这被视为特斯拉向推出其“全自动驾驶”技术迈出的重要一步。评论：该报道试图营造一种马斯克向中国“示好”的叙事基调，并强调了马斯克在中国的商业利益，例如特斯拉上海工厂，以及他与中国政府复杂的相互关系，包括被中国政府封禁的推特（现在改名为X）和社会严格的审查制度。然而，报道也提到了特斯拉在中国电动车市场面临的激烈竞争，尤其是来自比亚迪等本土车企的竞争。报道还提到，特斯拉投资者们对此次访问和与百度的协议感到兴奋，认为这是特斯拉在中国推出自动驾驶技术的关键一步，这也反映在特斯拉股价在纽约开市前的上涨中。总的来说，这篇报道有一定的偏见，它强调了马斯克在中国的商业利益和复杂关系，但同时又指出了特斯拉在中国市场面临的激烈竞争和挑战。报道也忽略了中国市场对特斯拉发展的重要性，以及马斯克一直以来对中国市场的积极态度。
Elon Musk’s visit to China has reportedly reaped immediate rewards with a deal for Tesla to use mapping data provided by web search company Baidu, a major step in introducing driver assistance technology in the world’s largest car market.
Musk made an unannounced visit to China over the weekend. The billionaire posted a picture of his meeting with the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, on X, the social network he took over in 2022.
Baidu, which dominates web search in China, will provide mapping and navigation functions to help Tesla operate its driver assistance technology, which it calls “full self-driving”, or FSD, according to sources cited by Bloomberg News. Mapping services – crucial to driver assistance technologies – are strictly controlled by China’s government.
Despite its name, FSD does not provide autonomous driving abilities: it requires a driver who has “hands on the wheel and is prepared to take over at any moment”. However, launching it in China could help Tesla in the fierce competition for market share in the country, and provide more income. It costs $8,000, or $99 (£80) a month, although it is not available in many countries.
Musk is often combative in his dealings with politicians, such as strident criticism of US President Joe Biden, or a standoff in Brazil against a government he claims is censoring X, formerly known as Twitter. However, he adopted a more emollient tone towards China’s second most powerful politician, saying he was “honoured” to meet Li.
Honored to meet with Premier Li Qiang.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 28, 2024
We have known each other now for many years, since early Shanghai days. pic.twitter.com/JCnv6MbZ6W
Musk has a tangled relationship with China because of his various business interests. X is blocked by China’s government – which has rigid censorship. China’s government has also complained to the UN about close encounters between its space station and satellites launched by SpaceX, Musk’s rocket company.
However, Tesla runs a factory in Shanghai, and its Model Y was the third bestselling electric or plug-in hybrid car in China in March 2024, according to Clean Technica. BYD, a Chinese manufacturer that vies with Tesla to be the world’s biggest seller of electric cars, boasts the two top-selling models.
The visit and report of the Baidu deal was greeted with excitement by Tesla investors, many of whom are counting on potential autonomous driving abilities to justify Tesla’s position as the world’s most valuable carmaker. Tesla’s share price rose by 6% in trading before the New York markets opened.
Dan Ives, a tech analyst at Wedbush, an investment bank, wrote in a note to clients: “This is a watershed moment for Musk as well as Beijing at a time that Tesla has faced massive domestic EV competition in China along with softer demand. While the long-term valuation story at Tesla hinges on FSD and autonomous, a key missing piece in that puzzle is Tesla making FSD available in China which now appears on the doorstep.”