Musk could act as middleman between China and Trump in possible global trade war
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Drive an hour outside China's commercial capital Shanghai, and you'll reach Elon Musk's Tesla gigafactory. It manufactures almost one million Tesla cars a year and produces more than half of all its cars worldwide. But with US president-elect Donald Trump preparing to move into the White House, the relationship between his best buddy Elon Musk and the leadership of China's Communist Party is in sharp focus.
Shanghai has been the key to Tesla's success, largely thanks to the city's former Communist Party secretary, now China's premier, Li Qiang. Chief executive of Shanghai-based Auto Mobility Limited, Bill Russo, says: "Qiang is China's number two person. His position in Shanghai made everything possible for Tesla.".
"In 2017, China adjusted its policy guidelines for the automotive industry to allow foreign companies to own their factories in China," he added. "Tesla signed its deal in 2018, broke ground in 2019, and started producing the Model 3 in 2020.". Bank of England governor to join Reeves on key China visit.
Pilotless passenger drones and driverless taxis as China pushes boundaries of how we travel. Lawyer accused of being Chinese spy loses case against MI5. The factory opened at breakneck speak and in record time. In April, Musk met Li Qiang in Beijing, later posting on X: "Honoured to meet with Premier Li Qiang. We have known each other now for many years, since early Shanghai days.".
